Paying Attention? ((Lenora))

[Edward Summers R6]

It was a bright and sunny day in Hogsmead and Edward Summers was very cheerful indeed. That morning of course he had been a nervous wreck and scarcely noticed the weather. Now though, his test was completed and he had in his pocket his brand new apparition licence. Yes he was very glad he was seventeen now and able to get it. This would provide him with much more freedom during the coming summer. Now he would be able to leave the house without worrying about he floo and getting ashes all over himself. Up until now that had been his only way of getting around considering the chances of his parents ever taking him anywhere but King’s Cross were none to none and every year he still almost expected them to refuse. Worse than his parents of course was his older sister – his parents just ignored him – the wing of their house with his room wasn’t there in their opinion – when he walked in the room it still remained as empty as before in their opinion. That is of course unless they are having a conversation – then they will stop abruptly as if anything they say will be used against them. His sister though was a different story, when she was around there was no end to Ed’s misery. She would send curses at him left and right trying to chase him away as if he would infect her – and seeing as she turned 17 first he had had no way of defending himself in previous years. Not that he expected to fair much better this year though – his sister was an excellent dueller while Ed himself… he didn’t have the heart for it perhaps? Sure he could master the charms and how to perform the curses but…

He would not let thoughts of them upset this day though. No – Ed had his licence now – he could leave the house with none of them knowing. Perhaps he could even take up a summer job someplace that does not have a connection to the floo network – someplace they don't know and wouldn’t be able to find him. It would be rather interesting to work at that bookstore he had discovered in years past. The one where the store went underground and they sold muggle as well as magical tales. Now wouldn’t his family just love that – a Summers working for a place that considered muggle literature worthy of gracing the shelves of a magical establishment. They just didn’t understand – there is too much to learn in this world to be so closed minded. That was the problem with Slytherins – sure some may be intelligent in and of themselves but they will never truly be able to learn because they are too busy judging. He believed that is why the Sorting Hat had barely considered Slytherin as the house for him – despite his lineage. Slytherins to the last – except him.

So absorbed was Ed in his musings he completely forgot to cross the bridge over a small river when he came to it. He continued to walk past until he was snapped out of his reverie by the sight of some very unfamiliar buildings. He spun a full 360 but found nothing to be seen. He started walking back the way he had came hoping to see something he recognized soon. Off in the horizon he noticed the bridge and it seemed as if nobody was around there… He did now have his licence and it was in sight… ‘Crack’ Next thing Ed knew his feet landed firmly on the ground with only a slight tremble of the planks now beneath his feet. He sighed in contentment… it had worked – when suddenly someone bumped into his chest. This unexpected shift in his balance led Ed to wobble and grab the girl in an effort to regain stability. Being much larger than she, at six foot himself and the blond perhaps in the lower regions of 5”, though it was to no avail and he fell to the ground with a resounding “oof”. She then obviously came tumbling down as well sending them both off the crossing and into the shallow river below. ‘I should have known something like this would happen’ was all Ed thought as emerged drenched from head to foot and looked around for the unfortunate girl who had knocked into him.

[Lenora Byers]

It was such a pretty day. Too pretty to be spending it inside in a stuffy old castle. Lenora knew that she should be taking this opportunity to be rehearsing her part in Romeo & Juliet, but the sun and the birds and the gentle breeze had called to her and she had left the castle and entered Hogsmeade. She spent the day walking the streets and peeking into the window's of shops. Sometimes entering the shops and looking at their selection. There were so many things she wanted to buy, but sadly, she didn't have the money at that precise moment. So instead she decided to make a mental note of all the things she wanted so she could come back later for them.

After a full day of looking around and she still wasn't ready to go back to the school. Time to wander! Lenora hummed to herself as she walked down the road, twirling here and there. So engrossed was she that she didn't notice that she had stepped onto a bridge. She almost missed the 'Crack' sound. Lenora had shut her eyes for a moment but at the sound she opened them. "Hmm?" Suddenly she bumped into someone. Where had he come from? She wondered to herself. They boy lost his balance and attempted to catch it by grabbing onto her, which didn't go so well. Caught by surprise herself Lenora wasn't a very good anchor, not to mention the boy was exceptionally tall.

Lenora unconsciously wrapped her arms around him, hoping it would stop the fall that she could fell coming. It worked like a charm, only with a opposite effect. Both Lenora and the boy toppled over the side of the bridge and fell into the shallow river below. Lenora let out a squeak before she landed with a splash. Lenora sat up, stunned for a moment and dripping wet. The boy emerged, he looked strangely familiar. It took Lenora a second but than the name suddenly came to her. "Ed?" She asked, but than suddenly broke into giggles at the sight of him. His clothes drenched and clinging to his skinny frame, his glasses knocked askew and hair all a mess.

It took her a while to finally get her giggles under control. "I'm sorry, its just, you look really funny right now." She looked down at herself, she probably didn't look that great herself. She looked up at bridge above them. "Are you ok? Sorry for bumping into you like that. I must have been somewhere else, cause I didn't see you at all. It's almost like you just popped right out of thin air."

[Edward Summers R6]

Looking for the girl was utterly useless considering all Ed could see was blurriness. He had a general idea of where she was, though, as soon as she began to giggle and called his name. “Umm ya.” He mumbled out while searching for his wand, not able to inquire as to who she was considering he couldn’t see her enough to guess and she seemed to know him so it would be rude to ask her straight out. She continued to laugh as he pat around his pockets frantically… it must be there somewhere… “Yes I am perfectly fine. And the fault is mine completely – should have known with my luck not to apparate. But you know when something is new…” He said with a nervous chuckle hoping to figure out who he was speaking to soon. ‘Aha’ he thought as he withdrew the six inch piece of wood from his inner left hand pocket. Fat drips of water rippled in the river as Ed flicked the wand at the pair of glasses, which lay closed in his hand.

The charm worked as he expected and his glasses were water and streak free once more – not surprising – charms was something Ed excelled at. Glasses replaced over his face he could finally see who it was he was talking to and gave a sheepish grin – the girl from the tree. Lenora – he thought her name was though they had meet so briefly he wouldn’t chance using it until he was more sure. She was just as drenched as he and a sudden wave of guilt washed over him.

Ed hauled himself up onto the crossing and offered his hand down for her to use in getting back up herself. “Really, really sorry about that. I should know better I really should. Nothing I ever do turns out right.” He said with an uncomfortable chuckle trying to sounds as if he were joking.

[Lenora Byers]

Lenora stood up and looked at her drenched clothes that were now clinging to her body. Ed began to search his body for something that she guessed would be his wand. He probably wasn't able to see very well with his glasses streaked with water. He began to blurt out a apology about his luck and apperating. He can apperate? Thought Lenora? Looking at him again he did look to be the right age to take the apperating test. Finaly it seemed he was able to find his wand and clear his glasses.

Lenora accepted his offered hand and climbed up out of the water. "Dont be so hard on yourself, and besides." She motioned to his glasses. "Your glasses didn't blow up, so I guess not eveything you do goes wrong." She said with a smile. She pulled out her own wand and performed a simple charm on herself that semi dried her clothes and hair. She grabbed her shirt and pulled it away from her body so that the clothes were no longer clinging to her. Her clothes hung off her feeling heavy and damp.

She turned her attention back to Ed. "So, you can apperate? That must be so cool. Is it fun? Do you feel anything while your doing it?" She asked in a excited tone, not realizing that she was stepping closer to him with each question untill she was almost in his face. Her eyes gleemed in excitment and curiousity.

[Edward Summers R6]

Ed let out a small chuckle as Lenora pointed out that at least his glasses hadn’t blown up. “No, thankfully they have remained intact once more. Preserving the spectacle of their detonation for an even less opportune moment.” He then stood up and preformed a drying charm on his clothing – one he had become well acquainted with through his many years filled with mishaps as she enquired about apparating.

His clothes were still slightly damp and drips were still slipping down his face from his hair but Ed decided not to keep up with the charm lest he set himself on fire or some other such calamity. “Yes I just got my licence today. It’s not terribly exciting though… You just sort of appear someplace. The only real feeling is the pain when you land on your head.” He said with a chuckle subconsciously rubbing the spot where he had once landed when he first began practicing – grateful nobody had been there to see it.

“Do you have some time? I mean are you busy? If you are I totally understand I mean… It’s just taking my test was all I had planned for today and now I have done that so… Would you care to go for a walk with me? To dry off and things you know. If you are busy I totally get it though.” He asked her in rushed tones feeling a little guilty for her now sopping state seeing as it was he who pulled her into the river to begin with.

[Lenora Byers]

Lenora grinned and tilted her head slightly. "Well, just be sure I'm there. Id love to see it." She said with a wink. She listened in fascination as he spoke of apperating. She couldn't wait until she was able to do it.

She tilted her head to the side again and placed her arms behind her back as Ed began to ramble for a second. She giggled a little and than smiled at him. "Are you coming onto me?" She asked with a sparkle in her eyes. "Well, I'd love to go for a walk. Maybe we could also go into town and get something to drink?"

[Edward Summers R6]

Suddenly flustered Ed diverted his eyes to the left slightly then down as she asked if he was coming onto her. Well of course he wasn’t – he hadn’t even been thinking that way when he asked her. His cheeks were a deep scarlet as he contemplated how he could tell her without hurting her feelings but was saved the trouble as she seemed to take it as a joke and suggested they get drinks as well. He remembered that she struck him as one who took things lightly and in this case that was rather good – though little like Ed himself. “Yes umm drinks sounds like a wonderful idea. It is rather nice out is it not? Perhaps a little warm but when you are drenched I suppose that isn’t at all a bad thing.” Ed replied taking the lead in crossing over to the other side of the bridge and taking the path towards the thick of the activity in Hogsmead.

[Lenora Byers]

Lenora couldn't suppress a smile as Ed diverted his gaze and looked a bit flustered and began to blush a little. He looked cute all embarrassed like that. Ed took the lead in walking over the bridge and Lenora hustled to catch up to his long strides and moved up beside him. She looked up at the sky. "Yea, it very nice out, and I cant deny that the swim helped a lot in cooling me down." She said with a grin. They walked down the road side by side in silence for a while and than finally they were back in the thick of Hogsmeade.

Lenora spotted the Three Broomsticks and grabbed Ed's arm. "Come on, lets get some butterbeers." She said dragging Ed over. She stepped into the building and thats when it hit her. She had forgot her money. "Oh, um, Ed. I accidentally forgot my money at Hogwarts. You wouldn't mind paying for me? Would you? I mean, I'll pay you back." She asked him.