Getting out ((Padme))

[ariana]

Ariane sauntered through the hallways at a not exactly hurried pace, but she wasn’t really taking her time either. The hallways were bloody cold! Holding the mug of hot chocolate between her arms Ariane comforted herself with the thought that she would be out of the castle tomorrow to go and rest in Italy for a week. She would appreciate the warmth. Tapping a finger irritably on the mug Ariane let some a group of 7th years get into the common room before her before letting the door slide quietly closed behind her.

A quick glance around the common room showed Ariane a rather big crowd here today. A lot of students were getting ready to start packing – or had already finished it – and were now mostly lounging around, reading, playing wizarding chess or talking in small groups. While a more-or-less united face was displayed for the rest of the school there was a lot of power-play within Slytherin house and Arinae fit right in at it. Nodding and smiling to some of her acquaintances and friends Ariane greeted a couple with a short phrases as she moved through the room and walked down the girls stair-case to the 1st years dormitory.

Taking a sip of the warm drink Ariane walked to the mirror stand after grabbing her bronze hair-brush and a string. A couple of careless brushes and Ariane tied her hair back and up so they wouldn’t get into the way. She would have to get on with her own packing as well. Most of her things would be left here in Hogwarts, but she was expected to bring some of her things. Picking up a pair of light-gray pants and a green shirt, Ariane placed them neatly in the back of her bed for now – she would wear them tomorrow with the little emerald dots for jewels in her ears. Pulling on a white thick sweater that might prove useful in keeping her warm in the tad chilly room. Really, Slytherins were the best house, the aristocrats of the wizarding-world at most cases. But despite all that, why did the rooms here always seem so cold? However that wasn’t a hard problem to over-come so Ariane merely shrugged one shoulder and continued picking up the articles of clothing that would be comoing back home with her.

[Padme Rendel S2]

Padme sat in the library, the warm glow of the lanterns illuminating her face. It was deadly silent here, except for the regular turning off pages and the muttering of remembering. Padme sat farthest away from the window, which always seemed the coldest place. Nearly no one walked through the hallways at this time, since it was getting colder and colder. Most everyone was in their dorm. Getting ready to leave for the holidays. Padme herself had already packed and was ready for anything and everything that could happen along the way. She was leaving quite a few things at Hogwarts, just so her trunk wasn't about to bust at the seams. She really had no need to bring along all her clothes. It wasn't like something special was going to happen her back at dreary home, except maybe seeing Mother throw a fit over her appearance once more. Maybe she wouldn't see Mother at all? Padme didn't even dwell on the thought, since it was a ridiculous one at that. Mother had promised she would what for Padme to reach home, but when had she ever kept her promises?

Padme closed her book with a snap that made a few heads look up, but everyone else continued with their own business. She placed the book carefully in her bag and stood up, capping the ink and putting that in the bag as well. She didn't want to have a spill at the end of the year now, would she? That would make her look like a complete fool, carrying around a bag stained with black ink. Everyone in Slytherin would get a kick out of that. In fact, all Houses would. Padme got up from her seat and exited the library. The hallways were colder then the library. She shivered in her sweater, which she had brought just in case something like this happened. Her arms had goose-bumps all the way up to her shoulders by the time she arrived at the Slytherin common room. That was after traveling through the damp and freezing dungeons as well. Why did everything have to be cold about Slytherins?

Padme put her bag beside the armchair closest to the fire, letting the warmth wash over her like a bath. She soaked it up until she felt normal again, and only then did she start to relax. The Slytherin common room wasn't particularly comfortable. I mean, it was enough to live with, but Padme couldn't help but wonder what the other common rooms must look like. Why were Slytherins down in the dungeons anyway? Shouldn't they be somewhere better, warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer? Somewhere where they could all be the most comfortable? Padme sighed and leaned back in the armchair. Still, something itched at her mind. She sat up and walked to the girls dorm, taking her bag with her. She had forgotten something, probably, and that was what was bugging her. She always felt this way when she was about to leave, never confident that she had everything she needed. As she pushed open the door, she saw Ariane gathering up her clothing and packing it away. Padme gave her a slight nod in greeting, nothing more, and went to her own space, looking around for something she needed. "So," Padme said when the silence between the two became unbearable. She dropped her book bag with a heavy thud, which she regretted instantly later. She had probably broken that ink bottle. "Going anywhere special for break?"

[ariana]

Most clothes would stay here. Only those she liked best and that brought out her best features would come along. Most of the clothes needed – as well as her new formal dress-robes – were already at her home-mansion so those weren’t necessary. About half of her jewels would be coming however plus her hair-brush, but that wouldn’t be packed into the small suit-case Ariane would be taking along until tomorrow. She would have to brush her hair for the regular 100 times this evening and 00 times the following morning after all. She would not afford a break from her that kind of a routine, because that would only create sloppiness. And with sloppiness bad effects would be evident rather immediately.

Ariane glanced up calmly upon hearing the door open and replied to Padme’s greeting to a curt nod with just the same slight carelessness as Padme had displayed. Taking a sip from her mug that was standing on her bed-side table Ariane let silence hang in the air for a moment while sending a glance at the bag dropped so roughly on the floor. “I’m going to Italy with my parents for the holidays. Father was invited to a formal gathering there and while we are there we will most likely visit some other magical places there. At the very least the sun in Italy should be warm enough to banish the cold dampness of the dungeons in this god-forsaken school.”
Ariane regarded the other girl slowly through lowered lashes as she folded the sleeves of blue sweater. She and Padme had had a rather... explosive first meeting. And Ariane’s opinion of the girl still wasn’t high, yet she seemed to be acting much better than that day at Diagon’s Alley now. Perhaps that and Ariane’s relatively good mood was the reason, why she returned the question: “And you? Going home or staying at Hogwarts for the holidays?”

[Padme Rendel S2]

Padme shifted through her drawers slowly. They all seemed to be empty as for her belongings. Padme shot a glance at her trunk before sitting back down on the bed. Ariane appeared to be doing the same, except she was packing things up instead of looking for things left behind. Ariane would probably never forget anything, Padme thought bitterly. She seemed like the perfect Slytherin, Padme had to admit. She paused in her search before turning back to her with a raised eyebrow. Italy. Padme couldn't help but look slightly surprised; but quickly looked away after realizing this. What had she expected from a rich girl anyway? Padme was glad to hear Ariane ask the question back. At least they were getting somewhere.

"I'm going home. It should be nice there, although I doubt it will be any warmer then here. Mother and I will enjoy a quiet Christmas, away from all the bothersome people elsewhere." Padme said, swatting her hand in the air to move the subject of her holiday aside. "You're very lucky to be going to Italy. Do you go there often?" Padme asked, trying to keep conversation going. "I personally have never been to Italy, but I've heard it was one of the nicer countries around. The only problem I would have is the different accents and language. Italian..." Padme smirked and sat back on her bed, picking the brush she had left on the dresser for tomorrow. She ran it through her hair slowly.

[ariana]

Ariane sent a curious glance at Padme. She was staying home for Christmas? It was understandable that Christmas was spent in the company of family, but what about New Years mainly? At Christams Ariane was going to stay at the small villa they rented with her parents and the house-elves who were coming along. It was the New Years Ball she was going to attend with her parents. New Years was a time to be seen and to see others however. Weren’t her family invited to any party as Padme didn’t mention it? Or was she to stay home like Ariane had had to up to this year.
“I have been to Italy for a couple of times. Mother likes it there and we have visited a family-friend who owns a castle there. Kris Graas – he’s a Slytherin 6th year right now. I have stayed over at his place a few times, while parents were away with business,” Ariane responded with a slight smile on her lips. She liked Italy. She liked the warmth and the sun. She liked the fact that she could wear much more flattering outfits than in the cold England. Really, if you actually had some looks to be proud of, you might as well show them as good as possible.


“The country itself is splendid. And after the wretched snow I will be sure to enjoy and soak up as much sunshine and warmth as possible. As for the language I have acquired the very basic knowledge over the years. I admit that I don’t know much more than being able to handle myself in a restaurant and I do know some simpler phrases, but it has been enough to get me by. Father speaks Italian he will most likely translate anything more meaningful at the New Years Ball.”
Holding the light-blue sweater Ariane placed it into the small bag she was going to take along before stepping back at her trunk and eyeing it’s contents thoughtfully. Would she need something else from there? Or would she desire something else from there to wear during the holidays? “And you? Christmas at home but New Years? Going at some private party or to the annual Ministry Ball? Or is your mother hosting a party herself? Or is that spent within the circle of family as well?”

[Padme Rendel S2]

((I'm sorry for the delay, but I finally got into Padme mood. And I just realized - after looking at your signature - that Ariane's inactive. I'm just going to reply anyway, so when you do become active, there's something to reply to. ))

Padme raised an eyebrow at Ariane's words. Padme had been never been to Italy. The fact that Ariane had gone there more then just once and knew the language was extremely unfair for Padme to even begin to think upon. She looked down at her bed and nodded at Ariane, taking in all the words although she'd rather not hear it. Kris Graas was something surprising - Padme didn't know Ariane was related to him. Wasn't he the blind kid? Padme had never met him herself, but she had been interested and had taken some time in the halls to gave him a glance. She never stopped to stare at him like some of the others. He was no circus animal, as far as Padme knew. She let herself sink into the pillows. "I'm sorry about Kris Graas. I mean, the whole attack and everything. It must have been quite a shock." Padme said, suddenly, surprising even herself. She gave Ariane a glance and something that could be taken as a smile.

"I don't much care for snow either. In fact, it's one of the worst aspects of winter, not that I like the season either. I much prefer the spring and fall. Summer is alright, but much too hot for it to be my favorite." Padme put the brush she had been running through her hair on the dresser slowly. "Italy will be wonderful, I'm sure. Especially at the New Years Ball." Padme calmly moved the blankets farther toward the pillow, creasing out all wrinkles on the green bread spread. "I heard at Italy they have respectable families there." Padme always did try to listen in to where the most respectable pureblooded families were. It was common sense when you lived with Slytherins for most of the year at Hogwarts. She tucked her hair behind her ear before answering Ariane's next question. "My mother usually holds a New Years Party at our house. Sometimes it's for family, sometimes friends just come over for a small conversation and to catch up. Usual it's a small party, just so the guests don't make a complete mess of our house." Padme opened the dresser drawer closest to her and peered inside, but all that was left was space. "Although I'd much rather be going to Italy, mother decided that it would be more comfortable to just have a small party."

[ariana]

Ariane was a bit surprised at Padme’s statement. She turned just in time to see Padme send a small smile her way and Ariane eyed Padme thoughtfully for a few moments. Slytherin’s didn’t backstab their friends unlike the popular belief went among the other houses. They were hard to befriend and it was hard to keep a Slytherin’s respect, but Slytherins cherished and kept an eye on the few friends they had. Ariane nodded and send a calm smile back towards Padme feeling rather glad that the other girl understood such vital details as well. She would turn out rather well it seemed. “Thank you. And it most certainly was. He has always been a friend. Somewhat of an older brother or a favourite uncle figure I suppose, even though we know each other only thanks to the business Father has with him. He’s a friend always welcomed at our house-hold.”

Ariane nodded and finding a piece of string pulled her hair into a somewhat of a pony-tail at the nape of her neck so that her locks wouldn’t get into her way. Ariane didn’t want to tug on her hair all the time either. Ariane smiled briefly again as Padme joined in with the opinion about seasons. “Finding a properly tailored and fashionable winter-coat seems like an almost impossible task as well. And I’ll hope Italy will be nice. It will be a pleasant change for Hogwarts most surely.”
Respectable families. Ariane frowned slightly at the thought. Parents had thought about uniting Ariane in marriage to an offspring of one of those respectable families. Ariane knew that she wouldn’t be allowed to argue if her parents decided to go through it, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t very charmed of the idea. Padme seemed to know a bit so Ariane turned to face the other girl as she sat down on her bed.

“Ah, right. I have heard of it. My mother spoke very fondly of the gatherings your mother can host once. And the peace and intimacy of having the party at your own house will most certainly be simply enthralling. And there is always next year,” Ariane replied simply her thoughts still whirling around other matters, “Padme, may I enquire if you know anything of the Meave family? About Richard Ricardo Meave more precisely. Parents have been thinking about uniting our hands in marriage so we will be introduced at the New Years Ball, but I would wish to know something of him in advance.” Ariane didn’t like asking for it, but she didn’t have a choice. Right now she didn’t know the smallest thing about the boy a year and half older than her, who might very well become her future fiancé in a year or two.