The Outdoors Finished

"He's definitely Gryffindor," Miranda said with a confident air. "It's obvious to anyone that sees him. If there's a rule, he'll find a way to bend it or shatter it completely. That's always frustrated our parents to no end." She smiled, her eyes crinkling slightly at the edges.

"Anyway it was mostly just my older brother, my twin sister, and me so we had plenty of time to bond. Which most days were mainly spent under this oak tree near our home either reading, looking for creatures or planning ways to get into mischief," Henry said with a chuckle, his gaze flicking from Miranda and then to the sky.

"I bet it's nice having so many siblings to play with," Miranda replied, her smile slowly growing. "So I guess you like magical creatures, then, if you spend time watching out for them?"

I've never seen anyone who likes them as much as Cedar or I, she thought, watching him with new interest. Well, I haven't met many people at all, but of the few I've seen none have really cared that much. I'm surprised, but... maybe I shouldn't be. Maybe people do like me for who I am, no matter what Mother says.

SHe shook herself mentally. Of course Mother was wrong. She always wanted me to play the part of the perfect little child. She hated how I could never follow every rule like a good little child and "be normal". Like I've ever been normal. In fact, I'm probably as far from normal as one can get!

Henry grazed at the sky, sometimes spotting a lonely owl delivering a letter. Miranda spoke "I bet it's nice having so many siblings to play with, so I guess you like magical creatures, then, if you spend time watching out for them?" Henry chuckled a bit as he ran a hand down his hair, playfully. He started to swing his legs a bit faster and turn his graze to the courtyard, now seeing only a few students, mostly in duo's or groups talking among themselves or studying together. Henry smiled at the slight of a few dragon fly's flying in between and above the students.

that's sweet of her and her brother are so close not to mention share so many things in common, such going to Hogwarts together I know Annabeth would like her they both seemed to share a sense of adventure not to mention she seemed just as social and fun as Annabeth maybe I can write to her and tell her about Miranda then we can meet up in diagon alley together during next summer. Who knows that's ways away, but I wonder if she has other interests or strives to have a career in magical creatures when she's older? She seems to be almost like a book to me, I'm eager to open it and read it for any wonderful or amazing adventurous. It's funny how people can be alike books.

Henry smiled as he continued to look over the courtyard, as his feet swung on that branch. He relaxed his shoulders and spoke" it was nice having two sibling's growing up, I just wish I could have gone to Hogwarts with them. My brother already graduated from here and my twin's a squib so while the professor's remind me of my brother's brilliant academic's I still miss him, them both actually more than anything.... what about you, is your brother at Hogwarts with you or will he be?

Henry grazed over at Miranda and smiled before taking his gaze back at the courtyard as he continued" and yes I love magical creatures, I find them wonderful and amazing. Also non-magical creatures their as just as magical you can say, but what about you I know your parents own a magical creature farm but that doesn't real count for a reason. So why do you like magical creatures so much?

"My brother's coming to Hogwarts next year," Miranda said with a nod. "He'll probably leave a path of destruction wherever he goes, so if you look for him, it shouldn't be too hard." Miranda smiled wanly, her eyes misting over as she lost herself in memories of the various bits of trouble her brother had gotten into over the years. It was quite an endless list, even without adding the things she'd helped him with.

"And yes I love magical creatures, I find them wonderful and amazing. Also non-magical creatures their as just as magical you can say, but what about you I know your parents own a magical creature farm but that doesn't real count for a reason. So why do you like magical creatures so much?" Henry asked once she was done.

"We'll other than the obvious reasons, such as they're amazing and fascinating, I've always been an animal-lover. My parents always encouraged me to be one from an early age, before they started to grow distant. And of course, being on the farm helps too. I know that doesn't sound like a reason, but when you're surrounded by opurtunities to explore some truly amazing creatures, you really have to take the chance. If I hadn't been raised where I was, I'd probably still like them, just not as much." Miranda couldn't help smiling again. Being with Henry made it seem instinctive, strangely enough.

"Also, it's too bad your sister can't come here. I would've loved to meet her, if she's anything like you," Miranda said, watching a dragonfly dart through an obstacle course of leaves.

"My brother's coming to Hogwarts next year, he'll probably leave a path of destruction wherever he goes, so if you look for him, it shouldn't be too hard." Miranda said which made Henry laugh a bit but instead of feeling embarrassed he felt like himself and didn't try to cover up his laughing instead he just let it happen as Miranda continued"We'll other than the obvious reasons, such as they're amazing and fascinating, I've always been an animal-lover. My parents always encouraged me to be one from an early age, before they started to grow distant. And of course, being on the farm helps too. I know that doesn't sound like a reason, but when you're surrounded by opurtunities to explore some truly amazing creatures, you really have to take the chance. If I hadn't been raised where I was, I'd probably still like them, just not as much."

Henry grazed at Miranda and saw her smiling which influenced Henry to smile while he ran a hand through his hair playfully, he's been doing that a lot suddenly and doesn't know why. As he thought he heard Miranda say"Also, it's too bad your sister can't come here. I would've loved to meet her, if she's anything like you," Henry couldn't help himself but to look up at Miranda and just smile for a few minutes.

After sometime Henry smiled as he saw the dragonflies zoom in between and above students. Henry laughed a bit as he thought about a answer then finally spoke " that sounds like a perfect reason now no matter the farm you would have always had a love for animals but that farm helped you discover that love even more as well as your parents. Do you think you'll work at the ministry in their magical creature department or chose another path that involves magical creatures or one that doesn't involve them at all?" Henry smiled as his curiosity started to grew about Miranda like how he gets when he reads a book that he likes.

Henry then smiled and gazed at her as he spoke " also, yeah it's rubbish that my sister can't come to Hogwarts but I write to her offended even know that's not the same, it's something to keep us connected. Also your brother sounds like a torpedo of trouble just waiting to be let off." Henry chuckled a bit as he turned his graze back at the courtyard while hoping she didn't take offense of his comment.

"Well, I'd like to work for the ministry, since that would give me a chance to study magical creatures better. However, I also wouldn't mind coming back to Hogwarts to work as a Professor for Care for Magical Creatures, since I can't help but love this place." Miranda lifted an arm to gesture around the castle and grounds. "Any job with magical animals would be good, though. I'm not too picky."

"Also, yeah it's rubbish that my sister can't come to Hogwarts but I write to her often even though that's not the same, it's something to keep us connected. Also your brother sounds like a torpedo of trouble just waiting to be let off." Henry continued after she was done, smiling again.

Miranda couldn't help laughing at that. "Yes, he does. It's amazing. And it drives our parents absolutely crazy." She smiled at the thought of her brother. "I think its because that's the only way he can get our parents to pay attention to him. Otherwise they just ignore us."

Maybe I shouldn't have said that, she thought. I don't want him to pity us. Life wasn't bad without parents. If anything, it was better. We were free to do whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted. freedom like that is hard to come by otherwise. And it lets you learn some good life skills. I shouldn't be remorseful at all. There's no good reason! Miranda sighed from the internal argument. It was one she'd had most of her life, but had never been able to win or lose.

"Well, I'd like to work for the ministry, since that would give me a chance to study magical creatures better. However, I also wouldn't mind coming back to Hogwarts to work as a Professor for Care for Magical Creatures, since I can't help but love this place, any job with magical animals would be good, though. I'm not too picky." Miranda replied as she waved her arms to indicate Hogwarts. Henry couldn't help but smile a little, he found it nice how she's fine with any career as long as she can work with magical creatures. " I would love to work with magical creatures also, even non-magical creatures but I don't think I would like to work for the ministry. I never been fond of the ministry and seeing my father in the creature department of the ministry let's me see first hand what they do which isn't really for me.... anyway since you like creatures as much as I do probably even more, do you want to help me petition to the headmaster to let us take care of magical creatures instead of another class, like flying?" Henry chuckled a bit after he spoke at the thought of both doing it and the result of doing it.

"Yes, he does. It's amazing. And it drives our parents absolutely crazy... I think its because that's the only way he can get our parents to pay attention to him. Otherwise they just ignore us." Miranda have said, Henry grazed at her after she said this but didn't really feel sorry for her. While he did feel sad for her a bit he also knew how she felt and smiled at her reassuring as he spoke quietly" being ignored by your parents must have had it's pro's and con's. Henry went red at the face when he saw how insensitive that could have been taken, he took a deep breath before continuing " what I mean is I know how you feel, my siblings and I were almost always alone growing up. Are dad was mostly always away on some type of ministry business and are mum...well s..she wasn't around... so it was mostly just me and my siblings, so I can guess how you felt but honesty my siblings and I preferred it that way."

I hope she doesn't take pity on us or sees me as weird for preferring to be ignored by are parents, or if I came off rather insensitive. I wonder what she's thinking of me right now, I like her I really do and I don't want to mess up my chance to be her friend.

Henry turned his head to look back at the courtyard as he spoke"S..sorry if I came off rather insensitive, I don't really know what I was thinking. So since you like Hogwarts so much what do you like to here since I'm running out of ideas?"

"S..sorry if I came off rather insensitive, I don't really know what I was thinking," Henry said.

"Miranda shook her head. "No, I totally agree with you. And it's mostly pros, but, well, yeah." She shrugged. "I'm fine, aren't I?" And she meant it.

"So since you like Hogwarts so much what do you like to here since I'm running at of ideas?" Henry asked once she finished.

"I like being with other children my age, I guess. And with others who understand me, instead of just sentient creatures that are often more interested in the stars and planets than things on Earth." She frowned, her brow furrowing, like she was remembering an old argument or grievance. Edymal had never understood, and she doubted he ever would. But he was a centaur, so could she really blame him? Their minds worked differently.
"I also like being able to learn new things. And the library! The library is great, too." Her smile immediately returned. "It's great to have new books to read!"

Cedar would disagree, of course, she thought. That's why I like Henry. He actually understands that books are wonderful.

She turned to look down at the grass below, her eyes bouncing off of all the students down there enjoying the warm weather. While it wasn't as forested as her house, and there were definitely more humans around, it was still familiar and comforting.

"No, I totally agree with you. And it's mostly pros, but, well, yeah. I'm fine, aren't I?" Miranda replied as she seemed to shook her head. This made Henry smiled as he was happy that he had someone else who understood the benefits of being ignored by your parents also.

"I like being with other children my age, I guess. And with others who understand me, instead of just sentient creatures that are often more interested in the stars and planets than things on Earth... I also like being able to learn new things. And the library! The library is great, too. It's great to have new books to read!" Miranda then spoke which made Henry chuckle a bit and continue to smile. It's funny how we both have a love of books and learning, she's probably the first person I met who share the same level of interest with me when it comes to books.

Henry grazed up at the sky and noticed the clouds were getting darker and also the air got a but chilly, it seems like it's about to rain. " Besides from spending most of my time in the library because like you said it's wonderful there. To learn possibly as much as you like from something as wonderful and mysterious as a book, I might try hanging out with kids my own age again but I don't know about you... but I never had been great at that, most kids around my age wouldn't even talk to me forget hang out with me." Henry smiled as he continued" but you seem difference than most kids, besides from the fact that your talking to me. You just seem different and kinder also understanding than most kids."

Henry went red when he noticed that he said that out allowed and stumbled over his next words" it looks like it's going to rain, we should head inside maybe."

"...but you seem difference than most other kids, besides from the fact that your talking to me. You just seem different and kinder also understanding than most kids," Henry told her.

Miranda smiled at that, but was distracted by a large drop of water landing on her forehead. She glanced up at the sky, which had quickly grown cloudy while they'd been talking. Seriously? Now of all times? And just when she'd been starting to relax and enjoy the conversation.

"It looks like it's going to rain, we should head inside maybe," Henry said. He, too, seemed to have noticed the weather.

"Yeah," Miranda said with a sigh. She slowly slipped off of the branch she was sitting on and started climbing back down, placing her hand and feet in the footholds to make the going quicker. She hated getting caught in the rain. Cedar had always found it funny that she thought that way, and often compared her to a cat, one of her most disliked animals. Not funny.

Her feet hit the ground with a wet thud, and she wobbled slightly after the long time without using her legs. "Very demanding legs," she muttered under her breath, but sounded less annoyed and more faintly amused.

Miranda glanced back up at Henry. "It's safe to come down!" she called up with a smile. "We should get going before the rain really hits!"

She moved aside to get out of the way for him to climb down, turning slightly to watch the other students slowly empty out of the courtyard.

"Yeah," Miranda had replied as she started to climb down. Henry waited for her to climb down first, as he waited he saw it started to rain lightly and the other students seem to be hurrying out of the courtyard.

"It's safe to come down! We should get going before the rain really hits!" Miranda called up to him which snapped him out of his thoughts, he quickly looked down to notice she was waiting on the ground besides the tree for him. Henry nodded to her and sipped his messager type bag over his shoulder's. Henry started to climb down using the foot and handholds so he'll go quicker, once he was a couple of feet off the ground, he jump down the rest of the way which wasn't too bad given his height.

Henry moved his messager type bag to his side and tugged on the strap so it was in a more comfortable position as he smiled back at her. Henry looked up to see the rain falling a bit more heavy now but luckily he wasn't getting to wet given the tree that he was now standing under. " Looks like mother nature decided are conversation was over, it was nice meeting and talking to you Miranda. I would like to stay friends with you and sneak into the forbidden forest sometime so how about it?"

The thunder started over the courtyard and Henry looked around to see the other students already fled, he ran back inside the castle and stood at the entrance of the courtyard, inside the castle, while waiting for Miranda. Once he saw her run in and stand somewhat besides him, he spoke up"That was close." He chuckled slightly as he continued" So how about it then, friends?" Henry held his hand out and smiled at Miranda.