Harsh feelings? ((Arywiel))

[Billy Brady H6]

Billy was bored. He had nothing to do. Stacey had dragged Rex off somewhere-probably to make up for time lost when she and Billy were in Italy without him. Life wasn't nearly as fun when his best friend wasn't around, even when he was just somewhere else in the school. He'd been spending the past hour or so trying to find something entertaining outside...the best thing he could find was a stray stone which he'd been kicking along the path, but that was hardly fun. It was Saturday in the first place, so he had no inclination to do any work-it could all be done on Sunday. Though the chances were Rex would actually be available to spend time with Billy, so maybe work wasn't such a bad idea. It was cold anyway, so being inside would be more comfortable whatever he decided to do. Maybe he'd even find Rex somewhere.

So he went inside, but failed to find Rex when he looked around. Admittedly, he didn't look very far, as the chances were he wouldn't find him, what with it being such a big school, and the changing staircases and everything-it'd take forever to go round everywhere, and even if Rex was somewhere, by the time Billy got there he'd probably have moved again, possibly to somewhere Billy'd already looked at. He decided to go to the Hufflepuff common room, and see if there was anyone there worth talking to. Maybe even Harmony would be there, or one of his friends. But it was more than likely that most people would be elsewhere-for the majority of students there were far more entertaining places around school than the common room.

He was right. The room was empty apart from the odd student playing cards or some other game, or doing work. Work-not something Billy liked doing at all, but it had to be done. And as he had nothing better to do-he couldn't be bothered looking round the school more searching for Rex or some other friend, he deided that that was what he was going to do. He had a herbology write-up to do, which would be boring, albeit necessary, and a transfiguration essay to do. Some other things too, that he couldn't remember, but his planner would help him with that. He wasn't exactly in the mood for pranks right now, seeing as Rex had gone awol, so his time was best used productively, so he picked up his bag and took it to the library to work.

Luckily he managed to find a free table as soon as he got there, as some 7th year was just leaving. He sat down and took out his notes and hegan his Herbology. It wasn't the most fun of things, but whatever. He sat there, hoping someone interesting would come along, which would provide some entertainment and relief from his boredom. Possibly even Rex would turn up. He might even be here now! But no, he wasn't going to go and look now he was sat down-if Rex was here, he would find Billy himself. He got through about half of the Herbology work, when someone very entertaining came in. However, not entertaining for the right reasons. They'd fairly recently had a rather hostile encounter in the great hall, and Billy had no intention of talking to her. However, she was coming his way, so he couldn't exactly ignore her...

[Arywiel Coone G3]

Where was the stupid book? Phoebe had borrowed the same book two weeks ago and had returned it. It was supposed to help her in her Charms. Ary browsed the thick volumes, occasionally running her fingers over their spines to remove the dust and reveal the golden Titles imprinted. She had spent a near quarter of an hour looking for the thing, and it was starting to irritate her. She couldn't consentrate on what she was looking for, for the hushed voices and musty air. Ary felt as if she was in a hospice. The floorboards creaked under her shoes and every now and then, a bespectacled head would peer from around a bookshelf and the owner would put a finger to his or her lips. Older students studying at the little tables glared at her and shushed her so often, that she wanted to head off back to the common room. Arywiel knew exactly what she would have to face if she went up again. It had become tiresome walking in on Phoebe and Tom Draper, the fourth year, smooching around in the common room. Phoebe would always titter nervously once Ary walked in, but continue to have her face sucked in. Arywiel grew tired of it, and she wasn't the only one. More and more Gryffindors in her year mysteriously wandered to the library or lounge instead of heading for the Common room after class.

Ary looked desperately for something to do or a book to read, before Pince could accuse her of not doing anything and throw her out of the library. Magical Mushrooms and Fantastical Fungi by Hester Abboth. Arywiel shook her head to herself. There were more books on plants and fungi, so Ary desided to skip that section. She wandered in between the shelves, aimlessly and waiting to get kicked out. She suddenly spotted a boy sitting at a table, crouched over what looked like Herbology notes. She scurried towards him as he looked up, and took a seat at his table. She paused, catching her breath, waiting for the familiar "Out. Now.", but it never came. Ary heaved a sigh of relief and looked at the boy. Wasn't that- wasn't that Billy Brady, the boy she had fallen out with several weeks ago in the Hall? There was a pregnant break, and Arywiel just stared at him, looking for something to say. Perhaps she should get up again quietly and take her things and go? Finally she dared a smile, hoping for one in return or at least something other than "Go away."

[Billy Brady H6]

Arywiel looked rather flustered, if anything. The reason, Billy had no idea, and wasn't particularly bothered. The thing was, she'd now come over to talk to him for some reason. She was carrying a book that he saw was a herbology book about mushrooms and fungi...interesting...not. Herbology was one of his least favourite lessons, only made bareable by having Rex as company in the greenhouses. Still, he hoped to pass but there was no way he'd take it beyond OWL. Hey, well, at least that book might be of some use to his work. Well, with every bad thing came a good thing, and in this case it seemed to be true. She'd probably find it kinda rude of him, but he didn't care-he might as well ask to borrow that book.

She sat down, seemingly surprised for some reason. Probably because he didn't tell her to go away-normall he would've done, but she had the textbook, and besides, she wasn't doing anything wrong by being there. Possibly distracting him was her only crime, unless she said or did something he'd prefer she didn't. But he didn't think she'd want to aggrevate him for no reason. She looked up and smiled at him. He just quickly smiled back and went back to his work. But she was staring at him, so he looked up at her again. "What? What do you want now?" he couldn't help saying. He went back to his work, but she continued to stare. "Hey, if there's something you want just ask me now, ok, not later when you've distracted me so much I can't finish this essay." He went back to his work, waiting for her to say something.

There was no reply, even after a few minutes. He was now at a point in the essay where more knowledge than he had was needed. This is where the book would come in handy, he thought. Hey, there was no harm in asking her to use it, she wasn't reading it herself even if she did bring it with her. She wasn't doing anything in fact, and he couldn't go on not being able to do this homework. "Right, if you're just going to sit there you might as well be of some use. Please can I use that book for my homework? It has to be done for tomorrow, and I need the book's help. So please can I borrow it?" He sat there, looking hopeful. Would she give him the book or just walk away? Perhaps she was hoping for some deeper conversation? Well, she'd come to the wrong place.