Going Mad In This Place ((Bronsen))

[Adriahna Dynes R5]

Winter break was over, setting Adriahna loose in the halls of Hogwarts once more. She had just finished a 3 hour spat of revision and was drying for a break. Waving to friends she passed Adriahna left the common room alone; she couldn’t stay there any longer. Where to go, though? It was nearly dinner, but probably a little too early to head into the Great Hall. It was never fun to sit there waiting for food to appear, Adriahna always felt so out of place when she was there early, like everyone who noticed her thought she was terribly impatient or something else totally unfair like that. No, she wouldn’t enter the Great Hall quite yet.

So that was two of her usual places to hang out crossed off the list. She could always go to the library… but then she would have to read or watch people read which would be nearly as difficult after all the reading she just did. Maybe it was best just to go into the student lounge, that worked, there should be people there about this time of evening. And then she could always leave for dinner shortly after if it was too quiet in there. Adriahna heard the squeak of her running shoes as she made her way down the nearly deserted halls; why some girls wore heels within the castle where nobody cared what you looked like Adriahna would never understand. No, giver her a pair of runners any day where she could be comfortable and get outside quick if she felt the overwhelming need for a bit of air, as she often did.

The castle could be a stuffy place. But it was home. It really felt like home as Adriahna pushed open the wooden door to the Student Lounge and made her way into the room. The air was thick and warm from the fire burning brightly at the end of the room. Adriahna made her way over to the games cupboard where she pulled out a chessboard and a bag of pieces. The room wasn’t too busy, but there were people in there and the sound of them chattering, laughing, and singing, was comforting after the quiet upstairs.

Adriahna set up her game at a table near the fire where she could feel the heat radiate into her bones, warming her from the inside out it felt like. Slowly, contemplatively, Adriahna began moving the pieces along the board, playing herself. She knew either way she would lose, but something inside her was hoping the white pieces would win and she found herself subconsciously playing better for them. She chuckled at herself as she realised this, she really must be a dork to care which chess pieces won. The black pieces glared up at her, as if admonishing her for laughing while they were getting annihilated down there. “Well really now” she said to them, “it’s not my fault you guys are losing. Look at you, lost your queen right off. That hasn’t served you very well, has it?”

[Bronsen Reid R1]

Bronsen had been sitting in the Student Lounge for a few hours. Bit by bit, he had been successful in getting his homework done for the rest of the week. He liked to work ahead when possible, and homework never did seem that bad as he always seemed to become very engrossed in the information he was learning. Sometimes though, it seemed like so much to have to remember, and he knew that there was a lot that he could quickly forget if he didn't review or take a bit of extra time to make sure that it really stuck in. One bad thing he had began to realize was that he also seemed to lack on the practical side of learning. He could read book after book and remember things from them, but when it came to doing the specific spells or such, he didn't have as easy of a time. He kept practicing though, knowing that he could only get better if he was consistent in his attempts to learn. Some might have said he was odd for an eleven year old, but Bronsen didn't heed much attention to what others had to say about him. He was set in his ways and determined to learn to be the best he could be.

Flipping the last book shut and suppressing a yawn that tried to sneak its way out of his mouth, he stood and pushed in the chair that he had been sitting in. Cramming the books into his overstuffed bag, Bronsen slung his belongings over his shoulder and prepared to depart toward the Ravenclaw tower. On his way out, however, he noticed that a familiar girl who was older than he seemed to be playing a game of chess all by herself. Bronsen found this a bit odd, and naturally, his curiosity got the best of him. Stopping to watch her for a second, he observed as she would move one piece, and then proceed to take a piece of the opposite colour and move it next. He was even certain that he saw her talking to someone, or something rather. She was! She was talking to the pieces. How odd.

For a few minutes, Bronsen starred at her and wondered why she made some of the moves that she did. He was a slightly knowledgeable chess player himself, and though he wasn't the best, he at least knew that some of the moves she was making seemed to be quite silly. It was almost like she was trying with one colour and then simply moving any random piece to an arbitrary spot when it came to moving the other colour. Without realizing it, Bronsen had began to step closer, quite curious to see how the game might end.

So caught up in the girl's solitary method of playing chess, Bronsen didn't realize that she was now looking at him until his eyes met hers. Instantly, he looked away, scared that she had noticed his starring. "Oh, sorry," he stammered, not sure if he should run or explain his standing there. "Umm, I was just watching, that's all." He didn't know if she'd want an explanation or not, but he figured that he'd provide at least some sort of one before seeing how she might respond. Bronsen stayed standing there, almost rooted to the spot as he waited to see if she would address him or continue on with her game.

[Adriahna Dynes R5]

The little pieces continued to glare at Adriahna as she talked down at them, as though it really was their fault they were losing. She then noticed that the knight wasn’t actually looking at her, he was staring over her shoulder at something which was apparently terribly interesting. Turning around Adriahna noticed a Ravenclaw boy she knew from the common room to be named… Brighton? Bronsen? Boston? something with a B. Bronsen, it was Bronsen. She had ample time to notice him as he was looking down at the board she had been talking to moments ago. Of course with crossing gazes like that he was bound to notice her returned interest. When he noticed he was quite flustered.

Adriahna grinned as he explained that he was just looking. He seemed to worry about her. He wasn’t the only one who did so Adriahna really couldn’t blame him. “You play?” she asked him. “I think the black players are in need of some real help. Sit?” she said to him. No use in him just standing around really, and he was obviously not busy, otherwise he wouldn’t be standing there staring and blibbering.

Before seeing how Bronsen reacted Adriahna turned back and moved a white piece again, taking out yet another black pawn. “Sorry mates” she said down to them, “it really is just a game.”