Falling ((Marian))

[India Nightingale]

India walked slowly through the Grounds, secretly admiring the plants that were slowly but certainly budding, leaning into spring with anticipation. She was in an unusually light mood, and after having a three-hour long study session, had decided to come outside for a breath of fresh air, before returning to the Library to complete another insane marathon of textbook reading. Rarely did India appreciate the outside world, but today she could see it in a totally different light; everything seemed more beautiful than ever, and India wondered what had suddenly occurred in her to cause this change of mood. She was a very temperamental person, swinging from one emotion to the next, hence people thinking she had split personalities. India acted different around every person, and some people having encountered her once, found her being a different person the second time round they met her. India knew she was weird, and merely dismissed her moody attitude as not something to worry about. If she felt like being snappy, she’d be snappy, and if she felt like smiling, then she would, as long as people didn’t get the wrong idea that she wanted to be friends. The thought was disgusting, scary and just plain wrong. Currently, she wasn’t grinning her head off inanely, but a relaxed expression aligned her face, devoid of much emotion for now. Peace reigned over India for once.

As India strolled past a couple of third year students laughing happily, she ignored their blatant joy by staring blankly at the fair skies. It was rather good weather today, and lots of students were outside frolicking and making the best of it. However, India had been cooping herself in the Library all day, but she had no regrets. Whatever the weather, she’d always prefer the comfort of the indoors, the security it provided. Usually being outside made her feel small and insignificant, whilst in buildings she felt… in control again. Suddenly India felt extremely dizzy, the world going from a calm scene of beauty to a mass of wild blurs. Confused and not having enough time to react to her situation, India found herself falling to the ground, barely able to help herself from falling backwards straight for the floor. As she lost all sight and hearing, India acknowledged immediately that she had not eaten enough nor slept enough during the last few days. Wanting to work insanely had driven her to neglect both food and sleep, and now she was paying the price. Her body rarely gave way at school, but it had happened on several occasions in the past outside of Hogwarts. India usually knew to stay out of attention and trouble, as she didn’t want the teachers investigation into her personal affairs, being the nosy natured freaks they were, but this time she had ignored, in her euphoria, the crying pain her body seeked to relieve.

”Idiot.”

The next thing India knew as she came to, blinking repeatedly to rid her sight of the flashing red lights surrounding her, was that someone’s face was staring down at hers, and knowing this, immediately bolted upwards, narrowly missing the girl’s head in the process. Sitting up and letting her hands jump from dry grass to her face, India’s fuzzy sight returned to let her see an unfamiliar figure beside her. She recognised her as a girl in in her third year probably, obviously in Ravenclaw from the look of her school robes. India's mind whirred with surprise as she realised she had momentarily blacked out again. In front of this girl, nonetheless. Shaking her head to regain her control of her thoughts and emotions, India immediately jumped up and scrambled as gracefully as she could away from the younger girl, desperate to get away from any physical contact, almost falling over in the process because her mind was still slightly dizzy. Steadying herself finally, India turned to look the girl in the eye calmly, throwing away any worry to the wind and maintaining a nothing-happened outlook on her face. Perhaps then this Ravenclaw wouldn’t ask any questions. "I can't believe I had one of my blackouts in front of a younger girl... Damnit..."

[Marian Cormac R3]

"No, that doesn't sound right." Marian tediously scribbled out a line in her Charms essay, putting the quill to her mouth in an effort to motivate her brain. She didn't usually have trouble with Charms, but as the summer neared she seemed to be losing motivation. Perhaps that was why she chose to write on the Grounds instead of the Library. She hoped the fresh air would allow her to think better.

She sat quite comfortably on the grass, her books strewn around her and open to various pages. Luckily the dew from the morning had already evaporated. She hunched over her essay and added a few more sentences, crossing out minor misspellings as she went along. From time to time she looked up, a shout catching her attention. She was quite surprised at her own spurt of productivity. Usually she wrote her essays or did her homework in the library or the common room with the Ravenclaw girls from her year. It wasn't necessarily cheating; they wouldn't blatantly copy from each other. But they all found that their grades improve when they worked together like this. Marian hadn't been feeling up to joint homework the last week or so. As the girls in her house began talking about going home she found herself wanting to be more anti-social. She wanted to go home, but they all talked of their amazing wizarding families, and she knew that her Muggle summer would be about as boring as any other. She envied them.

Marian sighed, drawing herself up from the hunched position she took while writing and pulled the obnoxious hair hanging in her eyes back behind her ears. She squinted against the sun, shielding it with her hand as she looked around. Her stomach grumbled, an uncomfortable pain that reminded her of the food she ate so little of at breakfast. She closed the books around her, setting her essay inside one of them, and grabbed her things. She'd been hording food from the Great Hall from time to time, shoving pumpkin pasties in her bag, or anything that didn't cause too much of a mess. Unfortunately the Great Hall wasn't open at midnight when she got late night cravings. And the stolen food was good for in-between-meal snacks as well. With an awkward stretch she tucked her books under he arm and started up toward the castle.

"I think I'll have a strudel. Yeah, I think I saved an apple one from two breakfasts ago. I tucked it into my suitcase with my clothes. Ew, I hope it hasn't made a mess. I swore I wrapped it up." But her inner conversation wasn't allowed the chance to go further because not far ahead a dark haired girl had collapsed. She looked up just in time to catch it. It was surreal, really, and for a moment she wasn't sure what to do. A part of her deep down wanted to laugh because people always looked funny when they fainted or fell, but then it dawned on her that there might be real trouble. She hurried forward at a slight jog and stopped above her, looking down to see if anything obvious was wrong. But before she got the chance to really examine her the girl shot back up and paced away. Marian was confused and her face probably showed it, a mixture of sheer concern with a what-the-hell-just-happened expression. "Maybe she suffers from narcolepsy...? Maybe this thing happens all the time?" The girls expression showed no alarm at all, so Marian decided to be bold and speak up. "You alright? Do you need to go to the Hospital Wing?"

[India Nightingale]

As India was brushing herself down, the Ravenclaw started to speak, unsurprisingly to India. She had just witnessed an unknown older Slytherin girl faint and fall to the ground, and India, knowing most humans, their first reaction was surprise, and then concern. India didn't need it. "I'm fine." She snapped hastily, her face cold and tongue sharp. She had to act tough, like this didn't hurt her and it wasn't such a big deal. Yes, she could pretend it never happened, and maybe the Ravenclaw would assume that she had hallucinated or something. God, if people knew that this had happened to her... There would be several rumours roaming about her in their year, especially between the Slytherins, no doubt. Not that India cared what they said and thought, but it was best to avoid questions as such. India was not anorexic, she just simply neglected her food to the extent she fainted. Of course not. A thought suddenly struck India, and she almost groaned aloud in irritation. What if Skye found out? That would be hell. The stupid thing heard more than anyone else because she had spent half of her life listening and not talking. Skye picked up things quicker than… well. However, India was intent on not letting her twin sister know about this incident. Because if she did, Skye would no doubt pester her about her “problem”. Or just one of her problems, as Skye often put it.

”I haven’t got problems.” India growled roughly inside, a hand touching her face as her brow scrunched up in aggravation. She should’ve been more careful with herself, but since it was the end of the year, she had overexerted herself and lost track of things. ”I am not going to tell Duke about this either.” India decided firmly, nodding her head to herself as she slowly stood up to face the Ravenclaw girl. Glancing over at the dark haired student, India mused for several moments in silence, her clear eyes regarding the school robes and the rest with intense scrutiny. She was unknown to her, completely and utterly, but India was sure she was in second year, rather than third year… Quite a young student actually. India especially did not know younger pupils in Hogwarts. They were just annoying little mites. “What’s your name?” India demanded coldly, folding her arms in a protective manner across her chest.

India was prepared to talk to this girl in order for none of this occurrence to get into the school rumours. At least if it did, being the end of this school year, India wouldn’t have to worry about much circulation for a long period of time. However, there was still Skye to deal with, and right now, she was about the last thing India wanted to see or talk to. “Look here, you,” India addressed the Ravenclaw again, the ice in her voice not thawing an inch. Fear was a good factor to use here. Especially with a student so much younger than herself. “You never saw this happen, all right? I never fell down, I never fainted and all that crap. You got that?” India’s glare was as dangerous and menacing as she could get it. A very small part of her always felt guilty about scaring younger girls, and what had this Ravenclaw done but stumble on something she shouldn’t have seen, but… most of her couldn’t care less. India used to be that age, and when she was younger, she was subjected to much worse. Much, much worse.

“If you dare breathe a word of this incident to anybody,” India warned, threat eminent in her low voice as she leered forwards, eye-to-eye with the Ravenclaw. “I won’t forget you. And you will pay.” India backed away again slowly, all the time remaining in eye contact. “It’s not my style to hurt younger children, but I will do so if necessary. It’s only a step up from the actual threat.” It was true India had never carried out any of the threats she made to younger students. She freaked them out and did much glaring to scare them away, but she had never actually physically hurt them with a punch or a spell. Her peers and older enemies hadn’t gotten off so lightly. “Remember that.” India added as an afterthought, her glare waning a little but the coldness forever in place. “Oh, and no talking to Madam Pomfrey. The last thing I need is that woman on my back, you hear?” India snarled more to herself than anything, the thought of having to tell the school about her eating habits so outrageous she could’ve scoffed. No way were they to ever find out. Never.

[Marian Cormac R3]

Marian would be lying if she pretended that this entire incident didn't surprise her. She was completely caught off guard by the threatening vibe. She'd seen this Slytherin before. Not very often, but a couple times in the Great Hall and on the way to her classes. She noticed on each passing that the girl never seemed very happy and so she mentally noted that it would be best to avoid her. But it looked like today's accident would prevent that, at least for the moment. By the glares, she planned to avoid this girl from now on, regardless of the outcome of the meeting.

"Marian Cormac," she murmered under her breath, almost inaudibly, as she tucked her books closer to her body. The last thing she wanted was to be bullied. It didn't happen very often, but lately the Ravenclaw boys were picking on her. Just little jests that she hoped would not return after the summer. The owls she got from home reckoned it was mostly in response to her quickly sprouting body. She'd grown at least an inch or two in the last year. Either way, she didn't want to sustain anymore. She'd watched the Slytherins in her classes pick on certain students. She did not want to be on the other end of any mocking.

"I told you she had narcolepsy," her inner self said as the older girl started threatening her, trying to convince her that the fall was nothing. "Yeah, she has narcolepsy and doesn't want anyone to know, so she doesn't want you to tell. I'd be pretty embarrassed if I fell asleep randomly too." It took Marian a bit of effort to stifle a smile as these thoughts pestered her. But that was easily changed when she started paying attention again. Was she really being threatened? The girls she went to school with before Hogwarts would threaten her too, and even now it still had the same effect. She rolled her eyes, side-stepping the girl and going around her, headed back to the castle. "Your business, or medical problems, or whatever don't matter me. No one will know," she yelled back over her shoulder, more than a hint of contempt in her voice.

[India Nightingale]

India could see the will of this girl burning in her eyes, but did not back down from her glaring. Hearing the girl’s name, India stored it within her memory so it could be of use for another day. ”Marian Cormac…” Marian was obviously not responding in the way India had hoped. She should’ve expected it, really, judging from that fire in her eyes. She seemed the determined sort, the kind you didn’t bully. If you were in her year, anyway. For some reason, those eyes reminded India of Skye, which merely made her more infuriated. That spark of determination. Rolling her eyes to herself at Marian’s behaviour and controlling her rising temper, India had the sudden urge to just stalk up to her and give the girl a good slap, to make her come to her senses. India was older than Marian, and she demanded even the littlest of respect. Even if Marian didn’t fear India, which she appeared not to (India grudgingly supposed this was slightly admirable of, because she knew she was quite a feared person), okay, there were loads of naïve children out there who didn’t know they were playing with fire (India found that metaphor rather ironic to describe herself), but India didn’t take attitude. She just couldn’t stand it. That stuck up approach, especially with an older student. At least India had Marian’s word (hmph) that she wouldn’t tell anyone. That was acceptable, so India would leave her alone.

Marian had walked perhaps a few metres away, when India decided she too had had enough of the outdoors, and began to follow in Marian’s footsteps back to the castle. The confrontation with Marian had made her edgy and annoyed, and the fact she had fainted so suddenly meant India really should be indoors, sitting somewhere safe and secure where if that happened again, no one would see it occur, and it would pass. Perhaps India could go get some food, but the thought only made her stomach feel sick. She didn’t feel like taking any nourishment at the moment; when did she ever? Frowning to herself, India’s long strides took her past Marian, so that she was walking in front of her, but India didn’t really notice. So stuck in her own personal thoughts, she narrowly avoided hitting a stone column, before veering into the Hogwarts corridors. With Marian still on her heels, India’s shoes clicking against the hard floor, she made her way back to the Common Room, forgetting all about her books and studying in the library. Now wasn’t the time.

India had perhaps walked only a couple of steps, just passing a portrait of some men drinking wine merrily (not that she noticed them, but if she had, India most certainly would’ve scowled at their obvious happiness with distaste), when her feet suddenly buckled, her body coming down with it. However, she didn’t have her usual blackout, thankfully, only her body too weak from lack of food, and she quickly grappled for the wall, using it to help support herself. India caught the strange glances of a frightened passing Hufflepuff, from the looks of it in first year, and she quickly sent her such a livid scowl it sent the poor thing running in the opposite direction. It was then India realised somebody had bumped into her from behind because she had stopped so suddenly in the corridors, and glancing around with irritated eyes, India realised it was that Cormac girl. Remembering how she had overtaken her earlier, India’s scowl remained in place as she snapped at her again, trying to steady herself and get to her feet properly. She knew now she had to do something with herself, otherwise she might not last the day. “Why are you following me?” No sooner had the words left her mouth, India still wrestling with the wall, her foot slipped against the floor, causing her to almost land on top of Marian. Horrified, India tried to jump away, to no avail really because her limbs had turned to jelly. Stabilising herself against Marian helplessly, India tried to maintain her usual glare at the girl from above. “This isn’t what it looks like.” She hissed dangerously.

((I'm sorry it's sooo random! I had lack of inspiration as to how to prolong our post... Hope it's okay. ))

[Marian Cormac R3]

Marian was too annoyed to pay attention to where she was going. "Did that really just happen? Ugh, I don't even know her name!" She was clearly flustered, and she walked slower than normal, her eyes constantly on the ground as she kicked at pebbles. She glowered at the ground, her books in a deathly tight grip against her ribs. She was torn. The one thing she wanted to do more than anything was march up to the Ravenclaw tower and tell the girls in her house about her experience and the audacity of the Slytherin girl. But the last thing she needed was trouble from an older girl. She clenched her jaw in frustration.

She was so consumed in her thoughts that not even staring at the ground told her she entered Hogwarts. She had walked the path up to the Ravenclaw tower so many times that she could probably do it blind folded, tripping a few times along the way of course. The floor was boring though, and her fuming was beginning to let up, so she let her eyes roam up from the floor the make sure she was in fact taking the right path. And then she noticed all too familiar dark hair. "Ugh, God, how did she manage to pass me?" All Marian wanted was to avoid her. She tucked her head down again, purposely trying to stare at the ground as she pressed forward.

Before she had time to realize what happened her head crashed into something rather hard. The stun caused her arms to give way and her books fell to the floor. She had run head first into the Slytherin girl, not realizing that she had stopped in front of her.

"I'm not following you," Marian snapped. "It's not my fault we happen to be taking the same route. You're the last person I want to be around." She clenched her jaw, afraid her lack of the ability to think before she spoke had just gotten her in trouble. "Good Lord, how can I get myself out of this one." Marian's arms were forced to reach out and try to steady herself and the Slytherin girl as she used her lanky body to maintain balance. Her knees buckled, causing her to crumple to the floor alongside her books, still trying to hold up the Slytherin.

"Well it will certainly won't matter if I keep my mouth shut about this now. Someone else is bound to say something." She glanced up long enough to notice the other students staring. It seemed like all of them had stopped what they were doing to witness what was going on. "I don't even know what to think this is," Marian said, flustered, as she tried to stand back up and dust herself off. "Look, I don't even know your name. I don't want to cause you trouble and I really hope you'll do me the same courtesy. I kind of enjoy eating in the Great Hall without people staring at me," she mumbled, more talking to herself now. She started trying to pick up her books. "This really isn't any of my business, but if you don't want anyone to know about this you could always blame it on a jelly legs hex. I mean," she glanced around at the students staring, "I'm not longer the only one you need to worry about telling."

((It's cool. I had a lack of inspiration when trying to think of how Marian would react to India, so I guess I've set us both up. Hah, sorry.))

[India Nightingale]

“The feeling’s mutual.” India growled back, too little strength to make a more abusive comeback at the argumentative child she was leaning against. So wrapped up in pain, India clenched her teeth and tried not to shake her limbs back into motion again. She hated to seem reliant on someone else, especially someone younger than her. India was not weak. She felt some books beside her, realising they were Marian’s, and her hands struggled to find a holding against the covered floor. She heard and watched as the Ravenclaw slowly got up again, dusting herself off with disdain. “I never asked you to become involved with me.” India glared still, not willing to back down even in the face of pain and humiliation. She was aware of more students gathering around them, but ignored them for now. She’d sort them out sooner or later. “And you’d do better not knowing my name.” India added as an afterthought, struggling finally to her feet.

“As if I’d let people think I was brought down by such a spell.” India scoffed loudly, brushing strands of black away from her eyes as she turned on the Ravenclaw. “I don’t care if you think I’m in denial, but I will always maintain that if there’s something I didn’t want to think happened, I will continue thinking that. If you have a problem with that, tough. I can handle it. I always have.” Watching Marian’s eyes flicker to the surrounding Hogwarts students, India decided to turn on them now, annoyed and irritated with their incessant whispering and rude stares. “What’s your problem?” She snarled loudly at them, stalking up to a bunch of younger Gryffindor girls despite still feeling very weak. No one made India feel this embarrassed. “You think staring at people is fun, huh? Go get lost! There’s nothing of interest to see here, d’ya hear me? It’s none of your business!” Quickly, the crowds dissipated, finally leaving an empty corridor with just India, Marian, and the girl’s several scattered books. India was thankful there was no one from her year in the crowds, otherwise Skye would’ve gotten wind of the incident immediately. It was hard not to gossip about a girl like India Nightingale. She was such a strange one, and it didn’t help she had a twin in Gryffindor who she didn’t acknowledge and who couldn’t speak. India supposed the general outlook on her behaviour against everybody and against Skye was considered cold and cruel. Well, people could think what they wanted to think. India didn’t care.

Turning to Marian with a steely gaze, her hand wandering to the wall again just in case she fell down suddenly, India took out her wand and muttered a quick spell, pointing at the fallen books. Immediately they rearranged themselves into a neat pile on the floor, and India left it at that, refusing to pick them up for Marian; she was being weirdly kind enough already, helping to sort them out for her. “Just stay away from me like everyone else does.” India muttered quietly, pocketing her wand again and turning away to leave, “Like I said. This never happened.”

((No problem. How about we finish this thread sometime soon? There’s not much more for our characters to do after this, I suppose. Part ways in the next few replies?))

[Marian Cormac R3]

Marian was taken aback by the Slytherin's attitude and it was hard for her to feel much else against this confusion. "Well, I suppose that's the last time I'll offer help to a Slytherin. And I always thought they weren't that bad..." She shrugged it off for the time being, knowing she would have plenty of time to stew over the events once she made it safely back to the Common Room. It would be extremely difficult not to blab about this. Perhaps she would write an owl to her mother, explaining everything. There was no way the girl would find out about that.

Oh and what drama this might cause her for the next few meals! It wasn't her social life that concerned her, but she was fully aware of what befell a student involved in rumors when they walked into the Great Hall. She had occasionally been on the staring end, unintentionally humiliating the student all the way to their seat. Would she be on the opposite end of that now? For a moment the scene flashed before her eyes. She mentally lived the nightmare she feared. And then reality caught back up to her and she was still standing in front of the fuming girl, eyes slightly glazed over from the daydream.

It took everything in her to hold her tongue as her seemingly innocent suggestion was snapped at. She sighed, knowing that words would no longer work for her in this situation. She generally trusted her own wit to get her out of things, but with this she felt very different. Silence would work best. And so she silently stooped down and picked up the books that the Slytherin had so kindly rearranged for her. Without a word of thank you she turned on the spot and walked away, doing her best to hold her head up and not turn around. The crowd was gone, but she noticed they gathered at the end of the corridor to whisper. They stared as she passed and she felt the burning intensity of their eyes on her back. But she continued on, a slight bounce in her step to hide the frustration she felt.