Merlin's Beard! You're Annoying! PV Piper

Piper had found the unused classroom early that morning - early enough that the halls were still cool and echoing with silence. There were only a few other students there when she arrived, giving her the perfect working environment - with soft chatter and the slight buzz of early morning energy. She liked it that way. Although what she didn’t like was the amount of sleep she had gotten the previous night. 3 hours. That was all she got. All because her mind wouldn’t stop racing. All because it was too quiet. All because she couldn’t deal with it. So she had gotten up - not checking the time because she knew how annoyed she’d be if she did - and headed down for an early breakfast.

She finished quickly and was on her way back to the Slytherin common room when she noticed the classroom. It wasn’t empty, but it was quieter than the common room would surely be. Besides, if she remained focused all the people and their noises would fade away. Piper found the quietest corner and sat down cross legged, pulling out the small wires, watch components and the notebook that was always in her pocket.

Now, most of the things coming out of her pockets were not usually seen at Hogwarts, to be honest she didn’t even know if they were allowed. But no one seemed to care or if they did she doubted they would say anything, unless they were that kind of person. Besides if they did see it they would likely call it junk, but she called it treasure… or her inventory.

Her fingers moved swiftly, half-focused on fixing the watch and half-focused on the sketch ideas beginning to race through her head.

That was, until she heard the door creak open again.

Piper didn’t look up. Didn’t lose focus on what she was doing. There had been too many people who’d come in and out of the room that morning, and she wasn’t about to make the mistake of looking up again. However, these footsteps seemed lighter, more deliberate, a little too precise. Piper decided to glance up briefly and that’s when she saw him. A boy. Probably her age. She didn’t recognise him though.

She looked back down.

Piper figured that he would just walk to another corner - that’s what everyone else had done. But no, after a moment of hesitation he walked straight up to her.

Seriously? There were so many other spots. Piper’s hands froze for about half a second before she continued working. She shifted her things, just enough to give him some space. She didn’t want company. She wanted to be tinkering in peace.

He started unpacking. Slowly. Methodically. With the kind of precision saved for medical procedures.

Piper continued to work, fitting one gear with the next. Her poor watch had broken earlier that week so she’d been carrying it in her pocket waiting for the perfect opportunity to fix it.

She continued. Gear after gear, wire after wire, all the while feeling the boy's presence beside her. She didn’t want to say anything but couldn’t stand how close he seemed to be to her inventory. So, without looking up, Piper said quietly, “Could you please be careful of those gears? I don’t have any spare.”

She paused to click a gear into place.


“And if you’re going to begin performing surgery on your bag might I ask you to find another place to do it?”

Piper kind of felt bad for what she said, but she was irritable in her sleep deprived state. And it was in this state that she decided she didn’t like him. It didn’t matter that she didn’t know his name. It didn’t matter that he hadn’t said a word yet. She would be open to his opinion, that was true. But she would avoid him at all costs if they met again.

She turned back to her project and muttered under her breath, just soft enough that he wouldn’t hear:


“Perfect. This is the perfect way to start my weekend.”

She didn’t introduce herself. Didn’t talk anymore. She was tired, irritated, and just wanted to have some space to herself. Either way, she went back to her tinkering, the rest of the room fading into the background. But one thing was clear to her: this boy - whoever he may be - was officially her problem, and it may or may not have been her fault.

@Piper Hart

OOC Notes: I love it! Hope you don't mind a nasty little goblin named Harvey. If it's too much let me now and I can dial it back.

Harvey made brief eye contact with the girl at the table before taking his seat. There was no way to know for sure, but he had a decent read on people and annoyed is a hard emotion to hide. People often think that they can. The flash of irritation across their face always gives them away before they fake a smile or pretend like they didn't look at you. Harvey wasn't like most others though. The social cue that was simply radiating off of the girl had no effect on the boy. In fact, it often egged him on. Many would try their best to avoid people that clearly did not want to be bothered, but he was drawn to it for some reason. This corner of the classroom was a bit quieter and had more space on the table. He didn't care that she was there first. He wanted it, so he would have it.

A little smirk would cross his lips as the young witch shifted her things to make room for him. Entitled little git! Harvey began to unpack his things in a very orderly fashion. This process brought a calm and order to his mind and even though his satchel was never really unorganized the routine of it ticked something in his brain that was quite pleasing. However, his eyes would wander as eyes often do. The witch next to him had some kind of mechanical parts strewn about the table as she tinkered away with a watch. Harvey suppressed an eye roll. One of those types. Probably muggleborn or one of those fascinated by their contraptions. Not that Harvey really had anything against the muggles and wizard-kind were no strangers to watches, but why not just simply cast a reparo and be done with it?

Then came the response he had secretly been hoping for. Her tone was an almost practiced neutral. The lack of eye contact and a note to the words that surely had some fire hiding just behind it began to make this encounter all the more interesting. Again, Harvey is not like many others. Most shy away from confrontation. Not that they are cowardly, but it's just a part of human nature to try and coexist before any strife occurs. However, some like Harvey find a bit of a thrill in the conflict. He was not large enough to flex muscles or beat his chest, but he'd happily engage in a game of ego as the witch mumbled something he could not hear.

Harvey lifted a book from his satchel and let it smack down hard on the table. Not near enough to her gears that they would be damaged, but it would most likely disrupt the delicate work. "No, I think I'll stay right here." His words were almost buttery sweet as they dripped from his tongue. "If you'd like to tinker away like some greasy muggle, then perhaps you might find another place to do it?" Harvey's rather long index finger would slowly descend onto the table. One of her gears just a flick away...

Piper’s head shot up as this boy slammed his book on the table. You’re kidding me. Piper thought. You’ve got to be kidding me. He decided to stay, and what does he do?! He slammed a book right near those gears!! They could’ve fallen! He could’ve broken them!

She noticed the sweet tone of his words and couldn’t help an internal eye roll. Then he mentioned her tinkering and she couldn’t suppress her emotions any further. “A greasy muggle?! A greasy muggle?!!” She exclaimed, outraged. “Do you have any idea how insulting that is? Just because I’d rather make something work than go about reorganising my bag for what looks to be the hundredth time this week doesn’t make me some… some clueless outsider!” Her voice caught at the end, and she crossed her arms hiding her other emotions behind this mask of anger. “If you have a problem with this or with me, you know where the door is.” Rubbing her eyes briefly she said, “For god’s sake, I haven’t even slept and I have to deal with this… this… argh!”

Turning away, Piper realised that she never addressed the fact that he’d moved his finger just a flick away from one of her gears. So, while breathing heavily and picking up a wire in her slightly shaky hands, she turned back and said deathly soft, “And don’t even think about touching that.” She nodded towards the gear inches from his finger. “One wrong move….” She trailed off, shaking her head and trying to regain her composure.

Her hands lingered over her items a second longer than they needed to. And as she got back to fixing the watch she muttered to herself, “I don’t have the time or patience for this nonsense right now.”

@Piper Hart

OOC Notes: Love it!!!

Another nasty grin spread across Harvey's lips when Piper's head shot up from her work. For the most part he was a pretty civil boy. Well mannered, prim and proper, a true gentleman in the making. However, there was a streak within him that could be black as night. It urged to twist and manipulate. All it took was her dry tone at the beginning of their interaction to spark it into life. All the more evident as his book landed hard against the table. Why would he interfere with someone like Piper? A girl whose only fault was taking an ever so slightly rude tone. Anyone could have taken the higher road and eased the situation with a few kind words, but Harvey was not the average boy. He disrupted her for no better reason than the fact that he simply could.

Harvey's eyes twinkled with delight for the briefest moment as she rolled her eyes and began to clap back at him in an outrage. Did the boy know that his words were offensive? "Yes." He replied coldly. The words were chosen rather intentionally. "Cleanliness is next to godliness they say." The sickly sweet tone returned as he continued to organize his things. Piper being clearly upset did not have him skip a beat. "You're one of the very few humans that was lucky enough to be born with magic in your blood and you choose to forgo your gift to what? Tinker with watches? A simple charm would have that fixed in an instant. When I learn the packing charm I certainly won't be organizing my satchel by hand anymore. We were chosen by nature to be powerful and you choose to turn it down. Now that my dear is what's insulting." Piper had verbally showed Harvey where the door was, so he was happy to end it there, satisfied that he had said his piece. Yet she would not back down.

The girl had turned away from him. A clear indication that she was done with this interaction, but soon she would face him again. Her words were soft. Spoken like an assassin whispering the final message to their victim before the deadly strike. Harvey would move his hand away from her things, but she may notice the smile remained on his face. Though he was an instigator and took pleasure in riling people up, Harvey also appreciated those strong of will. Perhaps this girl had much more to offer? Something to be determined another time as for now she would remain on his blacklist. He turned away and went back to his things.