Hogwarts Summer Camp Stargazing

Ileen rolled her eyes on Dee’s comment about Percival. She still had no idea where and in which direction something had gone wrong with the two - Percival had always seemed like one of the less idiotic people in her house - it was a good thing, Dee didn’t care much about his glaring and… aversion.
“Yes, sure!” The young Slytherin giggled again, this time with a sarcastic tone. “I agree. It’s all his fault. You are a saint!” With a wide grin she eyed her best friend, happily chewing on her strawberry.
Actually, it was kind of fun seeing the harmless banter between the two of them. But there had been enough drama for one year on their first day in the tent. So, Ileen would prefer it to stay peaceful that evening. She desperately needed to recover her energy - the tent was like a big black hole, consuming all of it. It was exhausting.
In this case, however, she had overestimated the morale of her best friend. With a quick movement Dee stuffed the last strawberry into her face. Probably she had wanted to put it in Ileen’s mouth, but instead the fruit was crushed on the brunette Slytherin's nose.
Ileen slowly wiped her sleeve over her face and gave Ravenclaw an accusing look.
In fact, she was already struggling against a violent giggle attack, which made her look less disapproving than intended.
“Ew, Dee! Thank you for sharing.” Ileen picked up the smashed fruit and quickly shoved it in her mouth. “Like I already said - too delicious to waste it as a projectile.” Since there was nothing but food to throw at her friend, she poked her between the ribs as a punishment, still fighting her own giggle.

As silence spread in her small group, Ileen curled up, bedded her head on her scarf and peered up into the dark sky. Here in London, just after a full moon, there were not so many stars to see as in Hogwarts or New Zealand.
Suddenly her heart became heavy and she could almost feel the melancholy spreading over her like a blanket. She was homesick. She missed Hogwarts, New Zealand and her parents. She couldn’t help but wonder what they were doing at the moment. She hadn’t heard from them in a while - fair, she hadn’t answered their last letter either and she was still mad - but still. It did hurt.
“One day, we should go to New Zealand and watch the stars up there. It’s breathtaking.” Her words were barely audible. They were only meant for Dee and the only way Ileen could express her oppressive feelings in this situation.

But the heavy atmosphere did not only seem to weigh on her. Also Zykeal was surprisingly quiet today. When he made his way up to his feet and said that he had something to do, Ileen’s gaze followed him. A slight frown curled the skin between her brows.
Maybe, it’s the quiet time and the darkness that gives people time and peace to finally deal with their thoughts. No chance of escaping them by causing drama, she thought and looked back up in the sky. She looked thoughtfully into the sky without really noticing the stars. This thought was new. Could that be the reason why Hogwarts children were causing drama so many times? Because they were running away from their own thoughts?
She slightly shook her head and sat up, to scan the crowd. A half smile appeared on her lips as she watched the chatting groups. Or they were just idiots after all. She skilfully ignored the fact that this time she thought that much more dearly than last year.

“You are such a drama queen,” she scolded her best friend and rolled her eyes again. “That was - like what? - three months ago? She won’t eat you.” With a mocking but loving smile she tugged at her friend's hair as she buried her face in the blanket.
A soft snort escaped her and she giggled. “And - come one. You are overreacting. All that happened was that they caught a pretty little butterfly in their net.”

Luckily for Dee, their conversation was interrupted by the Gryffindor returning to the blanket. He still looked gloomy and Ileen wondered what had happened. She barely knew him and it was not of her business, but he seemed sad.
Torn if she should ask him what was wrong or not, Ileen peered over to the blond boy. Maybe he didn’t want to talk about it - at least not with her. She wouldn't have.
He took the decision by standing up again after a short time and retiring with a quick farewell. She frowned again and turned to Dee. But she kept her mouth shut. What could she say anyways? In the end, it was none of her business. Maybe she should keep an eye on him.

Then she found that now enough moping had been done and got up with a sigh. She grabbed Dee's hands to pull her up on her legs as well. “Let’s go. Don’t be a baby. It is our only chance before the third year to learn about divination. So pull yourself together and come with me.”

Interacting with: @Dealla Prince
Mentions: @Zykeal Lane @Percival Rainwood @Rosalind Kibitzer

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By SK

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Interactions | @Ileen Knight
Mentions | @Zykeal Lane | @Rosalind Kibitzer

"I'm completely innocent," Dee agreed, batting her lashes and tugging on a strand of Ileen's dark hair, and dissolved into a bout of giggles when Ileen plucked the smushed strawberry off her nose only to put it into her mouth. "Ew, Ileen," she managed to get out, shaking her head and wiping her strawberry-stained hand on the grass near her feet before stuffing the rest of her chocolate ball into her mouth. "And you're most welcome," she agreed, nodding somberly after she'd recovered her composure, then shied away from Ileen's prodding fingers with a new fit of giggles. "I am known for being generous, after all."

After they'd both calmed down, they all lay on their backs in a peaceful silence, staring up at the stars in harmony.
A small smile spread on Dee's face. Just for the friends she'd made, the past year had already been worth everything they'd gone through.
"I'd love to go to New Zealand with you," she promised, feeling for Ileen's hand to squeeze it tightly. "You have to take me there at some point."

But then, of course, Ileen had to go and ruin the peace that had gathered around them.
"It was not three months ago!" Dee protested, face still buried into the blanket. "It wasn't even two! Who's exaggerating now? And she knows me, I could see it in her eyes." Another shiver ran down her spine. "She might not eat me, but she might do worse. Like. Laugh at me. Or tell everyone. I couldn't take it."
Dealla moaned as if she was in pain at the prospect, the sound muffled by the blanket and her hair. "And if I was a butterfly, I could have just flown over the net, duh."

When Zykeal returned to the blanket, Dee rolled around to face him, ready to beg him to save her from having to face Professor Kibitzer, but halted with her mouth already open.
He seemed... off. He was quiet - no teasing, no calling her "princess", no grin on his face. A little confused, Dee pushed herself up onto her elbows, dramatic rendition of the terror that talking to Professor Kibitzer would hold for her forgotten for the moment.
She shook her hair out of her face, eyes questioning. Ileen had gone quiet, too, and Dee was still trying to figure out what to say except for "Stop moping, it doesn't suit you" as even she was aware that wouldn't be all that sensitive, when Zykeal was already pushing up onto his feet again and left them with a quick goodbye.

Dee blinked and turned back around to Ileen, confusion clear on her face, but apparently her friend had decided that it was none of their business, and that there were other important things to do now. Such as forcing Dee to face her nightmares. Thinking about it, Dee decided it was a very real possibility that if she stumbled across a Boggart right this second, it would take the shape of that old woman.
Dee's expression turned into a stubborn little pout, her legs crossed to indicate that she was not going to get up anytime soon, when Ileen just grabbed her wrists to force her onto her feet.
"Nooooo!" Dee whined, letting herself be dragged half a meter forward in her best impression of a wet sack of clothing, until she'd reached the edge of the blanket. Then, she decided to get onto her feet rather than risk getting grass stains on her favourite pair of jeans. "Why would you do this to me," she lamented while she stumbled after Ileen towards where the Divination professor had set up her table. "Why do you want me to suffer like this?"

*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*

Closed to interactions except for @Illowy Magnard

Ruby had to admit that she was looking forward to this. After all the stress, drama, and even trauma of the school year, a peaceful night stargazing sounded lovely. A sense of ease came over her as she walked across the grass. There were plenty of others around, but she was alone and with no obligations. It was wonderfully freeing. The stars twinkled above her, decorating the night sky. Heading towards one of the empty telescopes to get a better look at them, a gentle smile graced her lips.

She peered through it, soothed by the sight of familiar constellations. Even before coming to Hogwarts and going to Astronomy class, she had enjoyed looking up at the stars. One night when she refused to go inside, her cousin had sat with her and taught her some of the constellations and the myths behind them. Her head was filled with tales and wonder that night, and she had tried to remember those ever since. Some of it was refreshed by Astronomy class, and part of the way through her first year, she had been perched on a tree branch at midnight with a girl who became one of her best friends, watching the stars and pointing out the constellations.

While she was alone this time, she had no bad memories from times she had been stargazing. A few minutes passed and she stepped away from the telescope, satisfied for now. She would make her way to an empty table or blanket. If none were available, she would lift her gaze back up to the stars and sit there for a moment.

*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*

Interacting With : @Ruby Cazares
Closed to Interactions

@Rosalind Kibitzer

Piérre was feeling a little frazzled today. True, he was still in his happy-go-lucky mood, as he had made it his purpose to be whenever interacting with others... yet, there was something slightly off about the atmosphere and the mood which was in the air around him. He just wasn't feeling his A-game today. The fight that had taken place in the tent that he had chosen had miffed him a little more than a little, and truth be told, with everything going insane, from attacks to new curfew regulations, all the way to tensions rising between student and professor populations... Piérre needed guidance.

What better way to find guidance than through a divination parlor, partaking in watching the threads of fate and the future spin their intricate dance?

Piérre wasn't exceptionally hungry, so he passed by the baskets and the other goodie bags nearby, instead looking up at the sky as he half paid attention to people he walked past, offering brief hellos and sorrys whenever he bumped into someone. Gemini, Piérre's own sign, was not visible at this time of the year, yet, there were plenty of other ones to look at, especially Pegasus, which was Piérre's personal favorite. Wouldn't it be cool to have a winged horse, white as snow or black as coal, able to fly above the clouds as if you were riding a horse on the earth?

Finally collecting himself enough to look back to the divination booth, where one of the newest professors was sitting, Piérre watched as a ghostly girl with stark white skin and hair departed, exiting the area altogether. Piérre thought her rather pretty, and felt halfway temped to follow after her and ask her how her fortune telling went, but then decided that he should find out for himself.

Piérre was still dressed in his highlighter yellow shirt and black outlined bowtie, with a pair of black suspender straps which crossed in his back. He wore black slacks as well, and save for the fact that he wasn't wearing grim, dark expression or any amount of studded leather or chain, Piérre looked like a Hufflepuff punk. Instead, his twinkling green eyes were sparkling merrily, even if his face was set with determination and a slight, concerned smile as he trotted his way over to the stand. Trying his best to remember the Divination professor's name, Piérre did his best.

"Hi Miss Blitzen!" Piérre greeted the divination professor, drawing a little closer and looking for a line is there one?. If there wasn't a line, Piérre would pause for a second, thinking about what exactly he wanted, before carefully asking for a tarot reading to help him decide how he should proceed in his life (if available). If there was a line, Piérre would smile and nod accordingly, taking his place at the rear and waiting patiently for his number to come up.

The next to approach was @Ileen Knight, draggin the unfortunate @Dealla Prince behind her. Perhaps Kibitzer would not have recalled exactly who she was dealing with in this moment if they hadn't chosen such a dramatic way to approach. Dealla's lamenting wasn't exactly quiet, but the professor hid her amusement well, trying to look as mysterious and sober as a proper mystic should on a starry night like this. She did not laugh. Nor did she tell everyone. But it was clear that she knew just who these girls were.

"Girls," she said simply, with an outward gesture toward her fortune-telling implements, as well as the table and open seating across from her for wayward students in search of fortunes. If she had any intention to humiliate one of them, she let it pass. In truth, they were favored students. They took part in the Relay Race, whereas most students were content to remain on their lazy behinds. These were go-getters. She didn't need to roll any bones to know these girls were in for good luck if they kept a good attitude.

But this wasn't an encouragement table. It was a fortune-telling table. And the policy had been made clear - you want your fortune told, you have to come ask a question.

"Is this a group reading, or is one of you in search of an answer to a specific question?" Rosalind wondered, raising her eyebrows as the two girls approached. "Think up something good," she added quietly, making sure not to leave the decision without added pressure. It would be out of character for her not to make the subjects of her fortunes at least a little uncomfortable.

As @Piérre Marchonné drew closer and called for "Miss Blitzen," Professor Kibitzer contorted her face into an expression of total bafflement. "Miss Blitzen? What, did you mistake me for a reindeer?" she asked, gesturing to the girls approaching before she added a correction. "It's Professor Kibitzer, please. I'll get to you after the girls, think of something good to ask."

Ileen groaned when she dragged her best friend to the edge of the banket. “Stop eating so many sweets, you are heavy,” she teasingly complained and smirked at her friend. When Dee had made her way up to her feet, Ileen would gently but firmly drag her over to the area where Prof. Kibitzer was offering the fortune telling.
“And I don’t want you to suffer. You need this. Everyone grows with their biggest challenge. You should face your fear!” Haha. Ileen was really interested in what the Professor of Divination would tell her, but dragging her friend there was so much fun. Especially since it was normally the other way around. Time for revenge!
“I’m sure she will tell us something interesting!” Ileen actually didn’t have a good question in mind - she was more curious about the fortune telling process itself. But she would come up with a fitting question.

Halfway there they were approached by a young girl. Ileen had never seen her before, but that didn’t say much since she was avoiding people in general. The new girl seemed to be a bit nervous - maybe because Ileen was violently dragging someone with her. Another smirk appeared on the young Slytherin’s lips. Maybe this was the first time ever she actually acted kind of slytherin-ish. Well, it wouldn’t become a habit.
Ileen was a bit afraid that she wouldn't be able to move Dee again as soon as she stopped her marsh, so she just continued walking, but gave the girl an apologetic smile. “Yes. I guess it’s for everyone.” At the last word she grinned gloatingly at young Ravenclaw. “We are also about to do that, right Dee?”

They hadn’t reached the table yet when Professor Kibitzer already called them. Briefly thrown off course, Ileen stopped. She was still grabbing Dee's arm to keep her from running away. Honestly, she also had a lot of healthy respect for the Professor herself. With her sharp eyes she had seen them heading towards her table. Could she have heard what they were talking about?
Swallowing and putting on a crooked smile, Ileen grabbed Dee tighter and walked over to Professor Kibitzer. “Good evening, Professor.“ She turned her head and smiled at Dee who she would try to pull next to her. Her brown eyes sparkled in excitement. “I don’t know? Group reading sounds fun.” She was assuming that Dee wouldn’t ask something right away anyway so she would just go ahead.
Thoughtfully biting her lower lip she let her gaze glide over the people around seeking for some inspiration. They stopped at Percival and then at Piérre who had lined up behind them. That reminded her of her tent and a question popped up in her head. But she should probably put them in more subtle words - she had no intention of dragging negative attention to herself by rubbing her opinion of all these idiots in everyone's face. She hadn’t done something to stop them from acting foolish. At least not more than a few times - but maybe she should? Clearing her throat she would turn back to the Professor. “I wonder if there is a chance that Dee and I will bring some good influences to the school?” Happy with her diplomatic description, she smiled. That was a good question. And if there was no way they could stop the constant chaos unfolding, well, then they didn't have to try. She still hoped for a yes. Her fingers were still itching to try the Sneezing Hex on some idiots before they could escalate a situation again. Like at the Slytherin Party.

Interacting with: @Dealla Prince | @Rosalind Kibitzer | @Jess Malters
Mentions: @Percival Rainwood | @Piérre Marchonné | rest of the tentmates

If you want to learn about the evil Sneezing Hex plan, loook here

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By SK

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Interactions | @Ileen Knight | @Rosalind Kibitzer

Dee stopped short at Ileen's words, knees locking and mouth dropping open in genuine outrage, but stumbled forward again when Ileen just kept tugging her towards where Professor Kibitzer was sitting. "I am not heavy!" she exclaimed in a tone full of righteous indignation. "You eat just as many sweets as I do! I'm pretty sure you ate more of my cake on my birthday than I did!"

Maybe Dee was actually dying: She at least seemed to pass through the five stages of grief, one by one, in record time. Having gone through denial and anger already, Dee now moved on to the third stage: Bargaining.
"Don't make me goooo," she begged, trying and failing to tug her arm free. "I'll get my mum to make us more cake when we're in Whitehaven? Or I'll try to sneak you into our Common Room? I'll help you with all your Potions homework next year!"
But she knew that it was no use. There was no talking to Ileen - she was a cruel, cold-hearted being with no empathy for Dee's struggles. Her other friends would never do this to her.

Her will to fight broken, Dee trotted after Ileen with no further resistance. Caught in her quiet contemplation of everything she had done wrong in her life to lead her to this point, she barely took notice of the girl who asked them about Professor Kibitzer, just slowly walking after Ileen, her arm limp in her best friend's grip.
Deep, deep down in her skinny dramatic body, Dee was also curious about what Professor Kibitzer would tell them, but she hadn't yet reached acceptance, still caught in the claws of depression.

As they finally approached the Professor's table, Dee swallowed, straightened her back, and raised her chin, accepting her fate. She was going to face her fears face on, her pride demanded it so - at least now that all whining and wheedling had proved fruitless. She was also entirely unaware of just how much attention their approach had drawn and was likely under the impression that she could still save face. "Hello, Professor Kibitzer," she echoed Ileen's greeting, meeting the Professor's gaze, and gracefully sat down on the seating provided, her shoulders set, back straight.
It helped a little that there didn't seem to be any mockery in the woman's eyes or words - but she still knew that both of them recalled the relay incident. Well. She certainly wasn't going to mention it, or acknowledge its existence in any other way. If Professor Kibitzer did the same thing, that worked just fine for Dealla.

Ileen had used the time to come up with a question - one that made Dee snort in amusement with its diplomatic, roundabout phrasing. "She wants to know if we will be able to get the idiots at this school to shut up and use their brains instead of fighting and setting things on fire every once in a while," she translated with a grin and a delighted sparkle in her eyes. "Even if it involves unconventional methods." Like making someone break out in a fit of sneezes when they were about to say something stupid. "Ileen's just too polite to say what she's thinking."