IRP By the Waters Edge Closed

@Nersin Winthrope

Kenna felt as though she had scarcely had a second to herself since her arrival at Hogwarts. Between classes, homework, meals, and repeatedly getting lost in the labyrinth of a castle, every minute of her day was full. She just wanted a few hours to herself to recharge and explore the grounds. Every day she looked out of the window at the vast lake, its mysterious depths hidden beneath an inky black surface. What creatures lurked below? Just how cold WAS the water? She longed to find out, but never had a spare minute to go and see.

But that Friday, after her last grueling class of the week, Kenna was determined to take a break. She dumped her school supplies in her dorm, and then made a beeline outside, ignoring anyone who tried to distract her from her mission.

Ahhh, fresh air. Kenna took a deep breath in, savoring the crisp fall air. The leaves were already beginning to turn, with hints of yellows and oranges popping out amidst the sea of green and brown forest. She couldn't wait to see the grounds in full fall splendor. She was certain there would be a riot of color once all the leaves began to change. There were not too many trees on the islands, so Kenna had rarely been able to experience much of autumn's glory. She couldn't wait to see the Forbidden Forest decked out in vibrant autumn hues.

Despite the pleasant fall weather, there were few students out and about this afternoon. Perhaps it was too chilly for all the southerners at the school. Kenna shrugged, and skipped along her way down to the lake. More space for her!

There was one student beside the lake, however. Kenna at first thought to avoid her and find her own space further along the shore. But then she noticed the girl dragging a stick across the surface of the water and watching it ripple. An odd pastime, Kenna thought, tilting her head to the side. Was she prodding the lake to see if any creatures would come out? Seemed kind of rude...

Deciding to find out just what the girl was doing, Kenna stomped up to her and crossed her arms. "How would you like it if someone came up to your bed in the middle of the night and started wiggling the curtains while you were trying to sleep?" she demanded. "If you're not careful, the giant squid will come snatch that stick from you and drag you in with it. I bet the water's already pretty freezing!"

To prove it, Kenna slipped off her shoes and walked in up to her ankles. She shivered dramatically, rubbing her arms. "Brrr! I wouldn't want to go swimming in there today!"

Nersin was fully enamored in the ripples that the water was making. It seemed different here. But was the water different here? She supposed it was because creatures magical creatures lived beneath. But was the water itself magic? Did I have healing qualities? Did it flow a different way? Nersin was lost in her world when she suddenly shook from her daydream of the stomping of the ground—causing a vibration to echo over the water, disturbing the ripples.

Nersin curiously rose her brow as she looked to the other girl. Assuming that the girl was most likely the same year as her, the red hair wasn't hard to recognize, though. The silvery-haired girl was almost certain that the unhappy girl was the first year as well. "Oh, well, hello. I do not guess I would like that. But I don't think I would like people stomping on my head either while I was attempting to sleep. Her light hues falling towards the ankle-deep girl. At the mention of swimming, she cocked her head to the side, " Why would you have to swim in it today? It's growing a bit too cold to swim outside, and you will surely get sick. The only thing she could think of is that perhaps it was for a class, but even then, she would hope that the teachers wouldn't make any of the students swim in such chilled waters. " I am Nersin, by the way..." Giving her a crooked smile.

WC: 248

Kenna tilted her head at the girl as she babbled about stomping on heads and expressed confusion at swimming in the lake. Her thoughts and words seemed rather to be floating randomly around space, disconnected and meandering. She put her hands on her hips and glared at the strange girl. "You're weird," she announced at last. But then broke out in a smile. "I like that! I'm Kenna, Kenna MacNeil."

Kenna waded back out of the water and flopped down beside Nersin, rubbing her wet feet on the grass to dry them. "Don't you just love the feeling of grass on your toes? I don't know why anyone wears shoes outside. Walking barefoot is much nicer." Kenna leaned back and let the last remaining rays of the weak autumn sun warm her skin. "Can you imagine being cooped up inside the castle on an afternoon like this? Wonder what all those other students can be thinking. I couldn't wait to escape! Yet here we are, nearly the only two outside."

She looked back over at the other girl, trying to place her. She didn't think she'd heard the name Nersin before, but then again, Kenna was terrible with names. She thought for sure she must remember such unusual hair. It was silvery-blonde and seemed almost to glitter in the dimming sunlight. Her cool grey eyes looked almost like water themselves. "Are you a first year?" Kenna asked at last. "I don't think I've seen you before. I'm in Hufflepuff, how about you?"

@Nersin Winthrope

Curious. Watching as the fiery redhead attempted to look like she was upset with the comment. Though to Nerisn, it was not an untrue statement. If one is standing in the water, wouldn't they be standing or disturbing the fish that swam or slept? Her soft hues flickered to Kenna as she commented on her being weird. It would not be the first time she had heard such, nor would it be the last. But then the girl smiled at her, and instinctively she did the same. Ner stood up and brushed her hands on her pants as she extended her hand, ", Hello Kenna, it is nice to meet you."

Fumbling to sit back down as Kenna did, she cocked her head to the side as the girl attempted to dry her feet in the grass. The idea of the coolness on her feet caused her to shiver. She was tugging the jacket around her more. "I mean yes, during the summer and spring. But it's a little too cold right now for that. I am not sure I would want a Plimpy to nibble on my toes. But you do not have to worry about them! They are harmless! Not sure if they are in the water here or not." Craning her head to look into the water more.

As she mentioned the sun, Nersin took a peek at it herself. It was rather nice. Perhaps she should take off her coat and get a bit of the warmth before it was all gone for the season. "No, I could not. It is part of the reason I came out. The constant studying and crowded halls and things leave me a bit claustrophobic. SO this is nice-- plus, it's a bit quieter out here too. Her nose wrinkled as Kenna finished off talking. Well, escape was what she had been TRYING to do. But that changed.

It was rather nice to meet new friends. She had gotten an owl from her mother, asking how her ships were going. She told her great, but really, she'd not found the time to get to know a lot of people. That and she felt odd talking to people she didn't know. But perhaps it was time to do that. Giving a simper to the girl, she nodded to her, "I am. I am a Ravenclaw. Though I had hoped to be in Hufflepuff, that is where my mom was, the hat, I guess, didn't think I belonged there."

WC: 418