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Post by Hikalyn Sarello on Jul 10, 2004 23:06:42 GMT
It was early in the morning for anyone to be up, let alone out and about, but Hikalyn woke after a fitful night's rest and found that, tired as she still felt, she couldn't get back to sleep. Instead, she dressed quickly, in shorts and a t-shirt, not the black robes that she'd worn during the school year, retrieved her Firebolt from its resting place, and headed out towards the Quidditch pitch.
The Quidditch season was over. When they'd won their last game against Gryffindor, she'd dared to hope that maybe Slytherin had a chance at the Cup after all. Though not unexpected, Hufflepuff's win against Ravenclaw, also securing them the Quidditch Cup, still stung, but Hikalyn had to admit that they'd earned it.
Hikalyn loosed a slight sigh, kicking gently at the grass underfoot, sending droplets of dew flying everywhere. She was nearly at the pitch by now, but she didn't stop and swing her leg over her Firebolt right away. This early in the morning, the sun had only just finished its ascent over the horizon, and was only starting to burn away the mists of early morning. The entire pitch was surrounded by a rich orange haze. The grassy emerald carpet glinted with reflected light caught in the many drops of water, and the unique colouring combined with the unnaccustomed, almost forlorn emptiness lent the pitch an ethereal appearance.
Hikalyn stood gazing at it for a moment longer, then mounted her Firebolt and pushed easily off the springy ground, rising sharply into the air. Her hands ran lovingly down the smooth wood of the broom handle, then she let go entirely, guiding the Firebolt with her legs only. It responded beautifully to even the slightest signal, the slightest shift of weight as she flew.
In a move so sudden that she almost managed to surprise even herself, Hikalyn abandoned her leisurely flight. Instead she leaned forward, elbows and legs tucked in as far as they could go, both hands gripping the handle of the broomstick, and jetted forward. Her broomstick shot forward with the speed of that for which it had been named. Wind whipped her hair and stung her eyes, and her vision blurred with the water that ran from them, but she didn't stop. Instead, she urged the broom on faster still. Flying the perimeter of the pitch, she turned with the boundaries of the grassy field below, so sharply that had she been any less skilled a flier, she likely would have fallen from her broom. The Firebolt could brake just as suddenly and completely as it had accelerated moments before, but she slowed gradually, finally coming to a complete stop several meters away from where she'd first started to slow down. Now, she nosed the broom upwards into a gentle climb, only stopping when she was hovering perhaps fifty feet above the ground, a dark smear against a blue sky gilded with gold.
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Lottie
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Hufflepuff Student
Who wants to be ordinary in this crazy mixed up world?
Posts: 770
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Post by Lottie on Jul 21, 2004 14:14:50 GMT
Lottie had managed to sleep okay, considering she was still getting used to her new school, but as always she was unable to keep still for any longer than a few minutes when she woke up. So, the young brunette had put on a pair of old cropped jeans and a plain white teeshirt before heading out to look around the grounds. So far, the small freckled girl had onyly been finding her way around the huge castle. The grounds were probably even more confusing.
One thing that stood out on the early morning landscape was the quidditch pitch, or rather the three hoops that stretched out for what seemed to be forever before eventually breaking through the blue sky. As she looked up, Lottie saw a blak dot soaring up into the sky and in awe, and curiosity, she broke into a sprint, reaching nearer to the pitch to watch.
Reaching the pitch, the freckled girl craned her neck to look at the black dot, because that was all she could make out, and waited to see what it would do next.
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Post by Hikalyn Sarello on Jul 21, 2004 22:59:31 GMT
Her lofty vantage point offered her a wonderful view of the Quidditch Pitch and its surroundings, so it wasn't hard to watch the figure edging its way closer to the pitch down below. High up as she was, though, Hikalyn couldn't make out any details, couldn't even tell if the person was male or female. Curious, she dropped back into an easy dive, angling herself down and towards the lone observer.
As she neared, she was able to distinguish the girl's features. She was small and slight of frame, with a splash of freckles across her cheeks and the bridge of her nose, her face framed by waves of brown hair. She was fairly young, Hikalyn thought, in only her first or second year, and she didn't look like anyone the Prefect had seen around before.
She lifted one hand from the broomstick in a wave, guiding her Firebolt out of the drop and into a level flight, slowing and finally stopping only a couple feet above the ground, where her feet would have touched had she not comfortably crossed her ankles behind her.
"Hi there," she greeted the girl with a warm smile, her face still flushed from the exhileration of flight. "What're you up to out here?" she asked curiously. Even in summer, the place was common enough for those just out for a fly, but this girl carried no broomstick at her side.
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Lottie
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Hufflepuff Student
Who wants to be ordinary in this crazy mixed up world?
Posts: 770
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Post by Lottie on Jul 22, 2004 21:42:44 GMT
Lottie’s eyes had widened with awe when the girl soared down in a dive. She had never seen anyone fly up close before. The nearest she had ever been was the bottom row of the stands at a local game. Bringing herself back down to earth, the small brunette smiled to the flyer. “You’re really good,” she commented, the smile still holding, before remembering the older girl had asked her a question.
Shrugging, the freckled girl said: “I couldn’t stay inside. You know when everyone else is still asleep, and you just want to run around?” she asked, her dark eyes glittering. “Well, it was like that. Really weird, you know?”
Looking towards the girl’s broom, those same dark eyes opened wider. “Is that…. Is that a Firebolt?” she asked, her voice stuttering a little to begin with unintentionally.
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Post by Hikalyn Sarello on Jul 22, 2004 22:01:43 GMT
Hikalyn ducked her head in acknowledgement of the compliment. "Yeah, I know what you mean," she agreed with a smile. "I'm out here for pretty much the same reason." Her grin broadened a trifle as the other girl noticed what model her broom was, a touch of pride in it.
"Yeah, it is," she answered, sliding off of it. The broom hovered easily in midair, the sunlight playing off the gold-emblazoned letters that proudly proclaimed it a Firebolt. "It was a Christmas present from a friend," she explained. Certainly it was nothing she could have afforded on her own, at least before she'd started working. Before then, she'd ridden a Cleansweep 7, and though they certainly weren't a bad model of broom, they just couldn't compare to a Firebolt. No other broom they'd made yet could.
She looked back at the dark-eyed girl--and realized suddenly that she didn't even know the younger girl's name. "Oh! I'm Hikalyn Sarello, by the way," she introduced herself, grinning a bit at the oversight. "Slytherin Prefect."
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Lottie
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Hufflepuff Student
Who wants to be ordinary in this crazy mixed up world?
Posts: 770
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Post by Lottie on Jul 23, 2004 20:10:19 GMT
Lottie's smile widened as the girl introduced herself. Meeting a Quidditch player? Why would she want to talk to the slightly befreckled girl? Blinking, and coming out of her thoughts, she figured she'd better introduce herself as well. After all, she was new here, and could do with some friends... or at least know some people.
"I'm Lottie McCartney, a Hufflepuff," she grinned. "It's a pleasure to meet you," the brunette spoke politely, the way she had been told to by her parents.
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Post by Hikalyn Sarello on Jul 23, 2004 20:26:17 GMT
"Likewise," she returned. Though she was a bit surprised at the girl's formality, her face didn't change the slightest from her warm smile.
She scuffed aimlessly at the grass with the toe of a shoe, spraying up little droplets of dew everywhere. "So, Lottie," she asked, using the girl's name as a way of solidfying it in her mind, "have you been at the school long?"
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Lottie
New Member
Hufflepuff Student
Who wants to be ordinary in this crazy mixed up world?
Posts: 770
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Post by Lottie on Jul 23, 2004 20:30:39 GMT
Lottie shook her head lightly, watching as Hikalyn made a mini dew drop shower with her foot. "I only arrived yesterday," she answered, suddenly feeling small again.
"How about you? You must have been here for ages to be a prefect! Hey, do you like balloons?" she asked, the brown eyes beginning to take on a glitter. Balloons seemed to be this girl's favourite thing in the world, and she asked everyone she met if they liked them.
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Post by Hikalyn Sarello on Jul 23, 2004 20:52:32 GMT
Hikalyn laughed, Lottie's cheerfulness was infectuous. "I've been here for about a year," she answered after a moment's pause for thought and a light shrug. It seemed like a lot longer, and no time at all. Time had a funny way of playing tricks on a person's mind.
She blinked, a little taken aback next by the girl's next question, then just smiled again. "Sure, I like balloons, why?" She cast the girl a mock-suspicious look, wondering suddenly if they had another prankster on their hands. "Do you have something particular in mind?" she asked, quirking a brow.
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Lottie
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Hufflepuff Student
Who wants to be ordinary in this crazy mixed up world?
Posts: 770
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Post by Lottie on Jul 23, 2004 20:57:03 GMT
Lottie shook her head again, an innocent smile playing across her face. "Of course not!" she answered, her tone of voice not changing. "I was just curious," the freckled girl continued, the innocent smile and countenance not shifting.
Okay, maybe at her muggle school she had volunteered to do a little redecorating when she shouldn't have... but that shouldn't need to be brought up here.
Besides, even if she did have an idea for some... fun, would a prefect be the one to admit it to? Lottie didn't think so.
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Anamaria
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Faerie
When you get burned, there's bound to be someone to pick up the ashes and hold them close.
Posts: 17
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Post by Anamaria on Jul 23, 2004 21:01:24 GMT
Anamaria watched the two converse contentedly, noticing that they seemed new to the communication between them. She felt a twinge of jealousy surge through her; the students found it so easy to find their friends, to talk to them. Even the Immortals seemed to find it easier than herself, and the Valkerie's were born with their allies.
Anamaria however... she was an outcast. The Faerie's no longer needed, nor wanted her. She was different - too different. Where she held the beauty and delicate features of a Faerie, inside of her she was writhing with hatred, desire and feelings that Faerie's steered clear of.
She ignored the anger that pulsed through her, and walked towards them, concealing her wings quickly.
"Good morning," she said smoothly, her dark eyes darting to the two of them before looking directly ahead of her.
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Post by Hikalyn Sarello on Jul 23, 2004 21:19:18 GMT
Hikalyn continued to regard Lottie for a moment more, her expression amused. She would have said something more, but at that moment a newcomer approached. Her dark eyes darted between the two girls as she greeted them politely, and then she stared straight ahead, apparently preoccupied by something.
"Morning," Hikalyn returned the greeting cheerfully, and though her curiousity was piqued, she kept it out of her expression. Instead, she offered the newcomer the same smile she'd given Lottie. "So, just out for a walk?" she asked, mildly surprised--it certainly seemed busy for this early in the morning, which struck her as a little odd. But then, she was up and about herself, so there wasn't really much she could say there...
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Anamaria
New Member
Faerie
When you get burned, there's bound to be someone to pick up the ashes and hold them close.
Posts: 17
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Post by Anamaria on Jul 23, 2004 21:28:18 GMT
"No," she replied shortly, perhaps too much so. She smiled almost apologetically before saying more politely, "Insomnia seems to be quite popular with me lately."
Anamaria looked the Prefect up and down, and vaguely recognised the description of her from somewhere. She asked curiously,
"Are you Hikalyn?"
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Post by Hikalyn Sarello on Jul 24, 2004 1:55:40 GMT
Hikalyn had been a little taken aback at the girl's curt response, though she noted the apologetic smile afterwards, and took it all in stride. In response to the girl's comment about insomnia, she murmured wryly, "Yeah, I know what you mean," but when the girl asked her if she was Hikalyn, she caught the Slyth girl completely off guard.
"Yeah, I am," she answered after a tiny pause, blinking a bit. "How'd you know?" she asked curiously, tipping her head to one side. Maybe she'd over heard Kalyn introducing herself to Lottie? "And you are?" she added, figuring she may as well add that while she was about it.
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Anamaria
New Member
Faerie
When you get burned, there's bound to be someone to pick up the ashes and hold them close.
Posts: 17
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Post by Anamaria on Jul 24, 2004 12:16:06 GMT
"Anamaria," she replied before answering the girl's first question.
"I've been keeping close contact with a friend of mine that resides here - I asked her about the authority of the school and she told me about the Prefects."
She smiled at Hikalyn, before extending her small hand.
"Kas speaks quite highly of you."
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