Studying (And Other Shenanigans) Private

Gem, while ecstatic about finally having a study buddy, was also a bit nervous. He’d spent some time in the library on his own, made a couple friends along the way, but he hadn’t ever really found himself going in there for a specific reason. When he received the owl from Catriona, he was quite happy she wanted to continue contact with them, he’d been under the impression she wasn’t particularly a fan of the two— even then, that hardly brushed his mind when he pushed the doors open and went looking for the dark-haired girl. He was alone, he didn’t quite know what Charlotte was up to right now, but at least he’d be there without much disappointment (or, now that he thought about it, much disappointment.)

He smiled a bit when he saw her, peeking his head up and scuttling over to the table she was seated at, sitting in the seat beside her.
“G’day, stranger,” he joked, “wot are ye workin’ on, now?”
Of course, it had barely occurred to him that he had no idea what they would be studying during this time, if they would talk while they waited for Charlotte, or what. He was excited to see where it went, because he had his doubts about his attention span around people he liked. Especially new friends.
“I dunno where Charlotte is, probably girl’s dormitory... she’s a bit ov a lazy arse, so it’ll just be you an’ me for a couple minutes.” He peeked over Catriona’s shoulder, raising his eyebrows curiously. He felt weird admitting to himself (and other people) that he didn’t know many spells— in fact, he knew a whopping zero. Still, Catriona seemed really smart, maybe she’d be able to teach him a thing or two, he was a quick learner after all.

Catriona jerked up from the parchment she was absently doodling on. She turned to Gem and grinned. "Hello! I'm not really doing anything important."

“I dunno where Charlotte is, probably girl’s dormitory... she’s a bit ov a lazy arse, so it’ll just be you an’ me for a couple minutes.”

Catriona raised an eyebrow. "You two seem close." Perhaps they were related? They looked slightly similar. Their accents were slightly different though. "Oh, I meant to ask, are you from Yorkshire? You've got the..." she gestured in the general area of Gem's throat. "The accent." Catriona's mother insisted that she spoke "properly." Any accent Catriona might have left her with one well placed glare. She'd been teased about it by the muggle children at the school she went to before Hogwarts, but she never dared tell her mother. It was her idea to go to a muggle school, not her mother's. If she mentioned being teased her mother would have pulled her out immediately.

The thought of her mother soured her mood. They hadn't spoken since Catriona snuck home. Her mother wasn't talking to her father either.

She shook her head slightly, as if shaking the thoughts from her mind. If she didn't focus on the conversation, Gem would think she was zoned out or that she didn't care (she did, probably a bit too much).

Gem nodded, reaching over to snag a parchment from under Catriona’s hand, getting his own quill from his bag. If they had nothing to do in particular, then he’d just scribble all over the paper without a second thought. He barely looked up when she spoke to him, a small smile cracking on his lips.

“Tha accent? Wot, me dee-dah accent? Yeh, I’m from High Green, born an’ raised.” He was a bit enthralled by the properness of her accent- it suited her, it was pretty. “I can’t quite put me fingah on the type of accent you’ve got, Berkshire maybeh?” He cocked his head curiously, going back to doodling on his page, only to stop seconds after.

He was quick to notice her face twist sourly for barely a millisecond, if it had been shorter than that, he wouldn’t have noticed. He wondered for a moment if he should ask, figured why not, they were friends, weren’t they? He leaned back in his seat a bit, his gaze watching her face so closely it would’ve been creepy in any other situation.

”Aye, you alroight there? Seemed a bit cranky, your face,” he nodded his chin at her, “you can confide in me, ya know. I know it doesn’t seem like it now, but I’ve got some pretty complicated feelin’s for an eleven year old.” His tone was mostly playful, but his words were as serious as they could be. He didn’t want to press the issue, but... he wanted to establish some kind of trust dynamic between the two.

Catriona nodded, impressed. "Yes, good ear. I'm from Ascot. My family is very Rich and Proper." Her father always said it like that, like he was saying capital letters. Rich and Proper, like it was a title. They used to hide out in the family library together when her mother would hold her dinner parties and make fun of the people that came. Her mother would usually catch them after everyone had left, but she never got angry. They just laughed together over cups of tea and hot chocolate.

"Aye, you alroight there? Seemed a bit cranky, your face. You can confide in me, ya know. I know it doesn’t seem like it now, but I’ve got some pretty complicated feelin’s for an eleven year old.”

Catriona's eyes widened. Gem was extremely perceptive. Catriona had gotten used to pushing all her emotions down where they wouldn't see the sun, but apparently he'd picked up on her mood shift. He seemed trustworthy, anyway.

She looked down, her lip curling a little. "My mum is being a bit... difficult. It's a bit of a long story. She said I needed more friends," Catriona said, scoffing bitterly. "Gryffindor through and through." As if by telling her to make friends she just could. She started fidgeting with her fingers under the table, a habit she'd picked up to handle her nerves. "I don't take very nicely to being told what to do. She sent me to summer camp here. I sent myself back." Catriona leaned back in her chair, arms crossed over her chest. "We don't really get along. The accent thing kind of reminded me of her."

Gem felt pleased whenever someone seemed to take notice that he did, in fact, pay attention. He listened to her, tapping the tip of his quill against the parchment paper repeatedly, mind working like the insides of a clock. If it was a long story, that meant she likely didn’t want to elaborate further- she’d been telling him everything he needed to hear anyhow, and while he didn’t relate from word to word, but he understood where she was coming from. Parents who didn’t bother to listen, empathize, or try to understand– he got it, he got it all too well.

“Wot, did she want ya to be a part of Gryffindor?” He inquired, furrowing his eyebrows. “Cos I know of parents who put that kind ov pressure on their children, but... you seem like a proud Ravenclaw- I could be wrong, but.. yeh get the idea.”

He looked over his shoulder when he felt shuffling behind him, then back over at Catriona. He didn’t feel it would be right to keep things serious and tense, it sort of just crept up on them. He straighter his back out, clearing his throat dramatically. Adjusting his tie, he fluffed out his hair and frowned, similarly to how Catriona did.

“Well,” he began, shimmying his shoulders, very prim and proper-like. “I think that whoatever accent you’ve got is just fine, but I am Rich and Proper, you little middle classer. I will never be like the common people, nor do I want to... why? Because my accent? Well, it’s just perfect. I am perfect, smart, and my wonderful friend, Gem, cares deeply for me and I am helplessly in love with him.” Clearly, he was making a mockery of her and her accent, but he was quick to show he was just playing around by smiling, lightly pushing her shoulder. “Alright, it’s your turn now. Do me accent, best ye can.” He hoped this would lighten the situation at least a little, making fun of the different variations of accents? It always got him up when he was down, especially trying to do an American accent.

Catriona paused. Her mother had never said she wanted her to be a Gryffindor, but who knew with her, really. "I don't think so. She's more upset that I can never put myself out there like she used to. It's easy for her, so she just assumes I'm not trying hard enough."

She watched Gem straighten up and began his hilarious awful imitation of her. Surprisingly, it was making her feel better. He nudged her shoulder and she laughed lightly. 

"That was both the worst and best thing I've ever seen," she said, grinning. "Ok, ok, let me try."

She leaned backwards and mussed her hair so it had some semblance of curls. "I'm Gem Stuart an' I'm very nice an' stuff. I'm good at accents, 'cos I'm observant. I've got lots ov..." Catriona trailed off, not knowing what to say. "...hair. On my head." Her attempt was like a tourist trap caricature of Gem's, but she doubled over laughing at the hilarity anyway. Somehow, she felt better. Lighter, almost.

"Thanks, Gem." Her eyes sparkled with mischief. If there was one thing she was good at, it was wordplay. "You're a diamond in the rough. A gem of a person. An o-pal," she said, winking.

Gem watched, clearly very pleased with her impersonation of his person. Seeing her happy made him feel happy, which was just about all they needed in a situation like this.

"Oh yeh, I sure do have a lot ov hair on me head..." He reached up, grabbing a tuft of it in his fist, tugging on it lightly. He was just about to trail off when he heard her voice again, listening attentively with the smallest smile on his face.

"You're a diamond in the rough. A gem of a person. An o-pal,"

He could've sworn that if it was possible to get happier, he would've been. He shook his head at the table, unable to come up with a witty, clever comeback towards her. Maybe he could if he wasn't so caught up in his own happiness, and it definitely showed.
"Alright, alright. Ya win tha' one, but just barely, right? I'll get you next time. Catch ya off guard like ya did wiv me, I swear." He glanced down at the parchment paper, then back up at Catriona, tapping his fingers over the table top. It was difficult to come up with things to do, especially in the library-- they were supposed to be studying, but that was out the window the moment they started to goof off. Now, he just needed to find other ways to dick around a bit, which would be proven... difficult.

"Oi, Catriona, I've got a question ta ask, it's important," he mumbled, beckoning her over so she'd lean in closely, cupping his hands around her ears whispering as silently as he possibly could, so only she could hear. "...is your refrigerator running?" That had to have been one of the most stupid things he'd ever done, but there was nothing left to say yet! Unless they could do more impersonations. That would be fun. After he had his fit of giggles over his less-than-funny joke, he leaned back in his seat, cringing when the aged wood creaked with his movement.
"Wot do you fhink the professors are gonna be like this year, aye? I feel like I should brace meself for disappointment, but also keep me chin up because they might just be cool. I haven't spoken to a single one other than for directions, an' I don't really consider that a proper interaction, ya know?" He was just thinking out loud now, pulling on the bottom hem of his cardigan as an anxious habit- even if there was absolutely nothing to be anxious about. He was in complete homeostasis right now. He'd learned that word back in March while browsing through the dictionary, learning it had multiple definitions; the one he was using in particular? The psychological one. A state of psychological equilibrium (which meant balanced, which he had to look up shortly after finding homeostasis) obtained when tension or a drive has been reduced or eliminated. His usage of the word brought him a very satisfied grin to his face, a common thing for him. Whenever he was able to use a word he knew, he was ecstatic about it, whether it be internal or external. Anyhow, he was completely content. Catriona was probably one of his favorite people now.

Catriona felt happy, really truly happy. She'd never had a friend before. It felt comfortable, like stretching out on green grass in a warm patch of sunlight. Like being wrapped in a warm blanket and sipping tea. How could something so foreign feel so comfortable?

"Alright, alright. Ya win tha' one, but just barely, right? I'll get you next time. Catch ya off guard like ya did wiv me, I swear."

Catriona pumped her hand in the air. "Did you expect any less from me? I am Rich and Proper, after all," she said, laughing. Her eyes flicked to the parchment paper and then back to Gem. Was he trying to distract her from actually studying? Catriona probably would have minded more if she'd actually had work to do when she suggested a study group, but she'd read ahead the night before.

"Oi, Catriona, I've got a question ta ask, it's important." She leaned towards Gem, so he could whisper in her ear. "...is your refrigerator running?"

Catriona snorted at the pun. She'd heard it before, but Gem's breath in her ear and the unexpected physical contact made it unexpectedly funny.

"Wot do you fhink the professors are gonna be like this year, aye? I feel like I should brace meself for disappointment, but also keep me chin up because they might just be cool. I haven't spoken to a single one other than for directions, an' I don't really consider that a proper interaction, ya know?"

Catriona looked down, thinking. "I've seen a couple of them around. From what I've read in 'Hogwarts: A History,' I reckon we'll get a spectrum." She gestured in the air with her hands, emphasizing her point. "I went to a muggle school for a while. Before I came here I mean. Mostly because I wanted to learn about biology and stuff, but that's beside the point." Catriona was aware she was babbling, but somehow she wasn't self-conscious. "Anyway, I started this scale, for strictness in grading policies, that way I could do the minimum amount of work possible to get the best grade. Like, Ms. George was a 7 on the scale, so I would try harder on her assignments than I did on other teachers'." She paused. "I can't really remember my original point, but I bet we'll get all sorts."

Gem liked to hear her talk, he'd discovered just now, just hearing her ramble on about the teachers, muggle school, and whatever else popped into that mind of hers. He'd wondered to himself if she thought quicker than she spoke, because he knew he certainly did. Maybe she was just far better at speaking than he was, which was entirely plausible, given every single situation they'd ever been in since the moment they met.

"You do that too?" He mused, raising his eyebrows, "Yeh! I did tha' in muggle school as well, just so I wouldn't 'ave to waste me energy on a teacher who's got low standards. That's refreshing ta know." He grinned cheekily, agreeing with the conclusion she eventually came to. "I guess. I'm glad we've got e' same teachers, I don't know wot I'd do if I didn't have a buddy around to link up wiv. Also wouldn't want anyone else to have time to chatter wiv, you know?" He turned his head, noticing a couple of students looking at some books-- normally, he wouldn't have given them the time of day, but something seemed off, like they were up to no good.

Gem was a big advocate of mischief, but not when it had something to do with messing with anyone's hard work. Naturally, he disapproved of bullying, but he didn't always let that get in the way of progress. He nudged Catriona lightly, gesturing at the non-good-doers, only stopping when he realized they were rearranging the books in a chaotic fashion. Well, if that didn't set him off, he didn't know what else would.
"Aye, don't yell at em' yet, do you have a rubber band wiv ya?" He whispered, holding his palm open so she could drop it in his hand. "Unless you want to do it, but how god is yer aim?" He hoped that was enough for her to know what his plan was, hopefully she had a good shot-- the backs of their heads were right there, it was just all a matter of force, and timing, now.