Curiosity Finished

Alan as per usual set his mind on spending the late afternoon outside after the classes were over and his lunch was eaten. Today seemed like a good day and the fourth year was hoping that it would stay that way. He was about to enter the courtyard when Tiger dashed past his legs and towards a figure that had been sitting on a bench with a book propped onto their lap; they obviously appeared to be busy so Alan would call out for his cat as he approached the figure and scooped Tiger up just in time before he could bother the kid who had been curious enough to look around and approach Alan.

"I'm sorry about that, Tiger is always curious like this," the Gryffindor apologized, his voice warm and soft as he was speaking to the unfamiliar boy, a little out of breath from chasing after his cat. A glance down he would see the familiar book he had seen before in his his classes so many times and he wondered why anyone would read it for fun. "My name is Alan by the way, who are you? And I'm really sorry about disturbing you from reading your book!", he would add a greeting as he held Tiger in one of his arms now and extended his second one to offer his hand for a handshake with the unfamiliar boy wondering who he was speaking to.

Sarah liked to people-watch. It was one of her favourite past times and something she did often. Perhaps it was due to the lack of interaction she had with many of the other students. The fact that she wasn’t involved in their lives meant watching them pass by was so interesting. She swallowed down the familiar longing to be part of it, ignoring the dull ache as she watched two young Ravenclaws rush by her in an animated conversation. For what felt like the hundredth time just that day, she cursed her father and his name. The mix of her appearance, which was admittedly intimidating with her bright hair and sharp features, her name which held the bigoted ways of her father, and the green and silver tie wrapped around her neck, was enough to deter most people from wanting to befriend her. She shook away the thought, no point in dwelling over what she’d known for years now. She distracted herself by running her fingers through Nova’s soft fur, receiving a pleased purr in response. She reached into her pocket, pulling out a cat treat and feeding it to a very sated looking ball of grey fur. “I do spoil you,” she said softly, scratching behind her ears in the place she knew she liked so much.

When she looked back up, Sarah’s eyes caught on a small Ravenclaw boy who was flipping through the pages of a book. Typical Ravenclaw, she smiled to herself. She was about to turn her attention back towards the main part of the courtyard, when a cat shot towards the boy she’d been watching. She widened her eyes, hand stilling in Nova’s fur. She watched, mildly enraptured as an older Gryffindor boy running after the cat, his dirty blonde hair bouncing along with his movements. She turned her body more towards the scene, realising she was openly staring, but not caring enough to stop.

“I'm sorry about that, Tiger is always curious like this,” Sarah smiled at the words, knowing Nova was much the same. She brought her hand back up to run her fingers down Nova’s back, only for them to slip through air. Startled, she flicked her gaze to where the cat had been just moments before to see the spot empty. She felt fear bubbled within her as her eyes darted around the courtyard. It settled somewhat when she saw her making a casual walk towards the scene Sarah had been so transfixed by. “Bloody hell,” She muttered to herself, quickly standing to stop her cat before she interrupted the pair. Nova seemed to sense her presence and quickly darted for the Gryffindor boy, settling at his feet and staring up at the Bengal in his arms.

“Sorry, she has a mind of her own,” Sarah said breathily, finishing her jog across the courtyard towards the boys.

The figure suddenly falling out of the tree behind them started Sarah, her eyes widening comically before she could school her features. It had also apparently frightened Nova enough for her to press her body up against the legs of the oldest defensively. When her brain caught up with her, and she realised it was just a boy, not some magical monster, Sarah went to walk to wards him to see if he was alright. The Ravenclaw boy - Ellis - beat her to it, moving with purpose and bringing the Slytherin back towards his bench.

Sarah watched, mildly enraptured, as Ellis wrapped the boys hand. It wasn't as though Sarah had never had to tend to herself, having tripped and slipped and fallen on too many occasions to count, but the way Ellis got right to it, mixing something alongside the bandage was impressively intuitive for a first year. A natural born healer, perhaps, Sarah mused, offering the older Gryffindor another apologetic smile as she bent down to collect Nova in her arms.

"You're pretty good at that," Sarah said, not entirely meaning for the slightly nonsensical compliment to slightly out, but meaning it nonetheless. "And I'm Sarah by the way," She offered them a half smile, hand buried in Nova's coat, calming her nerves at the number of new people - potential friends.

The next few moments were a little bit chaotic as another person, a girl with a cat would join them and Tiger's ears would perk up at the sight of a possible friend and mischief maker. Alan too would offer the cat a small smile before giving a nod of greeting to the girl who would later on introduce herself as Sarah. It was then when he heard a crash and upon looking around the fourth year would catch sight of a boy who had fallen out of a tree. At first he had been startled but his face would be quick to display a disarray of emotions; worry, surprise and recognition as he made this figure out to be Henry who he had seen around a couple of times. He would watch as Ellis would try to treat the other boy by steadying the arm with some bandages.

When Ellis would go on to offer them small good luck charms, the fourth year would gladly take one of the four leaved clovers and slightly twirl it between his thumb and pointer finger, seeming happy about the token. "Thank you Ellis, that's kind of you," he replied with a nod but was not all too sure how to answer the friendship question. He knew that the other kid was nice but he also has met him for the first time. "I would like to become friends eventually," he would say however, no sign of his previous insecurity showed in the way he spoke and behaved as he seemed genuine and he was. He would never say no about getting to know someone knew as he liked meeting new people.

Sarah smiled at Henry, slightly nodding her head in approval as he bent to offer his hand to the other cat. Tiger, she’d overheard – it suits him. She was a firm believer that if someone was kind to animals, they’d more than likely be kind to people. And she was always fond of someone who liked cats. Nova practically preened at the complement and Sarah found herself considering for the hundredth time just how amazing it was that the cat seemed to understand English. “Her names Nova,” Sarah said, an edge of pride in her words as she scratched behind Nova’s ears and received a pleased purr in response. “She’s my little supernova,” Sarah said, almost unconsciously, and between the boys with flushed cheeks as she realised the comment was perhaps a little too personal to admit to three people she’d just met.

As Ellis spoke, her eyes settled on him, watching as he slowly brought three charms from out of his bag. He seemed shy, slightly unsure of his words but determined enough to offer them friendship. Sarah found herself admitting the Ravenclaw. She followed Alan’s lead and reached for one of the four leaf clovers – an old muggle wives’ tale she’d once overheard a pair of Hufflepuffs talking about. She felt a warmth spread inside of her at the gesture. It was kinder than any she’d received in a while, and from someone she’d only just met. “Thank you,” She said, holding the small charm in her hands as she studied it. Nova turned her head towards it, nosing the small plant curiously, before settling back into Sarah’s hold. “It’d be nice to become friends,” She said, never one to turn down a potential friend. Not that the opportunity was one that often arose.