Leaves and Music. ((Bryan))

[Lori Leigh R6]

“Thank you class. That will be all for today.” And with that, Lori and Theo both rose from their chairs and left the small classroom. This was one of the few classes Lori didn’t have with Scott. She did like having his company in classes, but it was always nice to just hang out with Theo. Over the past year, things had defiantly changed. Lori laughed now that she remembered that she used to despise Scott. Sad, but true. She didn’t want anything to do with him a year ago. In fact, she wanted him to disappear and even thought of some ways to make that happen, but barely. It would be very un-Lori like to actually carry out any of those plans and of course she wouldn’t actually follow through with it. And now things had completely changed. Lori didn’t like to leave Scott’s side much which suited her fine. She did like it when they all hung out in a group. But lately, Theo was off about with some other friends. Lori wasn’t really sure who, she didn’t ask much about it but she did miss her best-friend. Sometimes Lori wondered if it was her fault that Theo wanted to get away every now and then. After all, she and Scott started dating almost out of the blue. Lori sighed and shook the thought away from her head. She didn’t want to think about that for the moment.

Lori squealed at the bright colors of the ground. She loved fall. She couldn’t help it. She loved the bright colors of the season and she looked the sounds the leaves made when you crushed them. What could she say? Lori was a kid at heart. What was wrong with that? Nothing. Lori’s happy-go-lucky nature and love of pink wasn’t about to go away. She was a true girly-girl and no one could take that away from her. Lori grabbed Theo’s hand as she started running around. Theo didn’t protest simply because Lori didn’t give him a chance to. Lori let the crisp fall air move her long blonde hair about her face, creating waves as they ran. She tugged her pink scarf tightly across her neck, hating the cold feeling on that part of her body. Lori smiled as she darted between some large trees and then neared the Black Lake. Lori loved this weather. It was almost as fun as the snow, but not quite. Lori still had a good month or two before white flakes would fall on the ground. But she didn’t mind. Because until then, she still had her leaves.

Lori and Theo finally settled down under an oak tree. Lori pulled out her muggle stereo and let her favorite tunes fill the speakers. She loved artists that had simple music with just a piano or a guitar. She loved simple tunes more than anything else. Both the Darkes and the Leighs shared a love of music. Lori learned to play the violin at a young age Theo took up piano. Lori liked the the two families had a lot in common. The families were best-friend which was why Lori and Theo were. In fact, it was almost like the two blonde were born to be best-friends. Lori could imagine them living in matching houses when they got older with their families. Of course it wouldn’t be traditional, but that didn’t matter. In the past, Lori wanted Theo to be a part of her family. She wanted to marry him someday. But that wasn’t going to happen. Lori would always love Theo, but Scott was her boyfriend now. Lori was content with that and she wasn’t going to think about her love for Theo anymore.

Minutes passed before Theo ran away making some excuse that didn’t really make any sense to Lori. Oh well. At least she got to spend some time with her best friend. Lori sighed and turned the music up louder. She wasn’t about to turn in. Oh no. Her lovely fall day was only beginning. Lori hugged her arms around her waist as she let the music fill up her day. The air moved about her silky blonde hair and the leaves crumbled beneath her body as she lied flat on her back. Lori smiled up to the blue sky streaked with clouds. Lori was usually crowded with a number of people always asking questions. They used to be just about her and Theo, but it lately everyone wanted to know about Scott. They wanted to know how this shy Gryffindor became the boyfriend of a giggling, popular Ravenclaw. Lori would always smiled and simply say that Theo introduced them. Even though Theo wanted Scott and Lori to be friends, sometimes it seemed that it wasn’t what he bargained for, but Lori just tried to believe that he was happy. Lori let the thoughts play tug-a-war in her brain until she heard someone say something. “Huh?” She asked loudly as she shot up, her legs still on the ground but her back down feeling the crisp breaze. The person tried to say something else, but Lori could hear him. She giggled and turned down the radio a good bit. “Sorry. Hi.” She said as her cheeks filled up with the usual soft pink color. Lori smiled and eyed the boy standing in front of her.

[Bryan Sangert H6]

Bryan had just finished the last of his homework in DADA, and was surprised he still had a few hours before night fell upon the large castle of Hogwarts. He decided to throw on his heavy jacket and go for another stroll around the outskirts of the castle, making sure he stayed inside the fence of the castle grounds. He liked the path to Hogsmeade considerably, specifically because right before he got to the gates he could look out over the lake and admire it. He loved the water, and particularly loved sitting next to the large lake and thinking. It was a blustery day, and the weather he loved the most. The leaves littered the ground and he could feel (and hear, in fact) the crunch underneath his Quidditch boots. He used the boots to walk through heavy snow and keep traction, but also used them during Quidditch, the few times he played for fun. Bryan hadn’t always been too huge on the game. He actually only really liked watching the sport, and he wasn’t completely good at it, so he kept away from actually playing, unless it was to help Finn practice.

Finn...He hadn’t talked to his best friend in a few days. Well, their beds were right next to each other, but he had been in bed long before Finn had gotten in the past few nights. In fact, he didn’t even know where Finn was at the moment. Bryan would have liked to catch up with him on a walk across the grounds. Finn seemed to have friends and other agendas lately that just ended up putting Bryan on the back burner, so to speak. It wasn’t a complete issue, at least Bryan didn’t think it was. People tended to get busy here at Hogwarts, and Finn was no different. They had been friends for five years, since that first year they both had come to Hogwarts. That had been a great year, getting to know everyone and hanging out with Finn. That year they had really bonded and then they were separated for a brief amount of time. Friends and school had gotten in the way, but they never lost their friendship. Now they were best friends, and even though they didn’t see each other as much as they would like, they still kept in touch and made it a point to hang out often.

He saw some people over at a couple trees on the one side of the castle, and decided to see who was there. He was sure he would know at least one of them. He made his way over to the large oak tree and saw that it had been two people, but the girl had been left by her friend, who happened to be a boy. The boy had run off quite quickly, so he walked over to the girl, who was listening to some music it seemed on her muggle stereo. He reached the tree and said “Hey, looking for some company?” She quickly realized he was there, but she apparently couldn’t hear him. He repeated himself, but she then took off her headphones and apologized. “Hi,” he said. “I was just wondering if you were up for some company. Seems like your friend ran off in a hurry.” He hoped he wasn’t freaking the girl out, but what did she have to be afraid of? He was friendly, and she seemed as bubbly as any one of the other girls he knew. “Have we met before?” he asked, as he waited for her to respond so that he could know if it was okay for him to join her at the oversized oak tree, there in the rustling leaves.

[Lori Leigh R6]

Lori’s cheeks filled up with the usual pink color. She was sure she looked a little funny with the previous panicked expression on her face. She laughed it off as she eyed her stereo before turning to the boy. She didn’t know him, but he seemed familiar. Lori was sure she had classes with him over the years, but of course even the outgoing Lori Leigh couldn’t know everyone. However, Lori did like to know many of her fellow sixth years and for the most part she did. Lori knew this boy was a sixth year but she didn’t have a clue what his name was. She racked her brain for a name, but nothing. Oh well. She would simply have to ask. No big deal. Lori wobbled a bit before sitting Indian style on the ground. She was sure that her previous position had looked quite silly. She stopped that usual pink from reaching her cheeks and smiled when she succeeded. Sometimes Lori could look a bit awkward or at least she felt that way, but in reality she didn’t. Lori was far from awkward. She was that girl next-door that everyone seemed to relate to, but they didn’t know the real Lori. They didn’t know the secrets she had to keep and sometimes, Lori wondered how long she could keep them bottled up.

“Hi.” Lori waved briefly saying her hello again. Now she felt comfortable and not like an idiot. She flashed her usual white smile and eyed the ground and then the boy again. Lori nodded and smiled. What could it hurt? “Actually I am.” Lori nodded. “Yea, that’s Theo for you. He’s had stuff going on all the time lately. He usually claims that it Prefect Duties, but I dunno..” She said truthfully. Yes, Prefect Duties did take up a good deal of time but Scott was a Prefect too and Lori saw him a good amount. Lori stopped herself but she could reveal too much more. She didn’t have much to share as she didn’t know what was up with Theo. She decided that it would be best to keep it to herself. Yes. That’s right. It was for the best. Lori tried to change the subject lightly. “That’s my best-friend Theo.” She added absently. “Oh and I’m Lori.” She said quickly while she flashed another smile. “Lori Leigh.” Lori didn’t usually have too many people asking her name. If they didn’t know her name they called her ‘that blonde girl’. A lot of people saw Lori for just her looks alone. Didn’t they know that she was more than that? Oh well. One day they would understand.

Lori shook her head. “I don’t like so.” She said shrugging. “Maybe a few years ago? I dunno but I’m sure we have classes together.” Lori nodded. He was a Hufflepuff, she knew that much. Lori had different friends from every house, aside from Slytherin. But even Slytherin had their exceptions and Lori liked to keep an open mind. But still, she couldn’t find many Slytherin students that didn’t think she was a blonde bimbo. Well at least she tried. Lori smiled absently. “Oh.” She said suddenly. “What’s your name?” She was sure he hadn’t said yet and Lori was curious. Besides, introductions were always nice. “So, your in my year, sixth right? So what classes are you taking this year? If you’re taking Transfigurations, I’m sorry.” Lori laughed lightly. “I know that some people are quite good at the subject but someone my brain one connects ‘Transfigurations’ with ‘aweful’.” She sighed and smiled at the small talk and then like back to the boy awaiting his name and his comments.