New dawn Closed

@Percival Gray

Maybe she was an odd one for actually enjoying classes. Though in her defense, it was a way to focus on things that were arguably less pressing to her. School was relatively easy to her, and engaged her in a way where she wasn't having to feel like a cloud of dread was looming over her if she struggled somewhere in the matieral. After all, the answers were somewhere, and that was a fact. Even if she couldn't find them right away, at least she could trust whichever Professor was teaching to guide her to the proper answer. That was a certainty.

Certainty, it seemed, was a luxury these days. Illowy was all too aware of that. There were so many questions that even their esteemed Professors couldn't answer for them, most of her's concerning the curse afflicting herself and several other Slytherin students. Some, like herself, bore the brunt worse then others; such helplessness was only aided by the fact that it felt like no matter how many books she read, how many crumbs she found, or late nights she spent trying to find answers... she just couldn't find them. These were the time sensitive problems she'd placed on her own shoulders to figure out, since it seemed everyone else had given up or accepted their lot. Illowy wasn't so easy to forfeit though.

Such stubbornness on her part, though she didn't like to admit it, was wearing on her. She was tired and frustrated and scared. She didn't like Unknowns. After all, knowledge was power and right now they were as powerless as they were the night it happened. Not to mention the other travesties that had occurred since in this year alone. With all this weighing on herself and the rest of the school, it felt more and more necessary to take a step back from it all, and allow herself, for just a moment, to forget it was happening.

That had been her point for trekking down towards the Lake this afternoon now that classes were over for the day. Behind her trailed a glorified ball of walking fluff named Killian - her cat. Just a moment to sit with herself and her little companion, draw and quiet her mind.

What she hadn't counted on was someone who seemed to have retreated to the lakeside for some similar solace. One of her housemates, though she couldn't recall his name exactly that moment. The girl couldn't help but notice the seriousness of the lad's expression as he moved from her view towards the water. Despite losing sight of his face, she couldn't help but noticed the glint of the familiar Prefect badge as he looked it over.

"I don't think I've never seen someone holding a Prefect badge look so incredibly solemn." she called from the embankment, giving a small tilt of her head. Killian sat himself elegantly at her heel, looking at the gleaming thing curiously, tail flicking in wonder if that were something to be played with.

@Illowy Magnard

Suddenly, across the embankment a voice shouted across to him, noting down his sadness as he examined the badge. In all honesty, he wasn't sad at all but instead unsure. Did he have what it took to make a difference? well, if the teachers appointed him a prefect they must have saw some sort of potential. Glancing down one last time he slowly shut his hand and turned his body to the newcomer, two by that fact.

A girl and a cat stared at him, both of them curious and interested in the badge itself "I'm afraid your eyes have tricked you there. I was only thinking about what was to come on this new journey" he said back, while at the same time walking over to them. His gaze went down to the cat, a creature he was all but familiar with at home. He looked well behaved and disciplined, a clear indication of the personality of its owner.

"I see your cat has a keen interest in my badge..." commented the prefect who playfully let the cats eyes follow the useless item, a small smirk across his face from how cute it looked "But unfortunately, no matter how useless it is I can't give it him as a toy" Percival added before finally placing the badge into his pocket. He didn't see the point of wearing a badge, all it did was tell someone they had higher authority over them. It was probably best to keep it as a memento for now. Nora would probably have a fit if she found out he threw it into the lake

"Say, what is your name by the way. And your little friend down here," he said calmly, carefully getting down to one knee and extending his hand out for the feline to smell "I'm happy to see you look after him well. Some students on the other hand don't even know the meaning of care..."

@Percival Gray

The older snake rose a curious brow when he insisted her eyes must be deceiving her. That didn't feel very likely. It seemed to her she was right on the mark between his serious, neutral tone and an expression to match. Weren't most students who were award Prefect usually proud of being gifted such honour and responsibility? Not to mention authority. There were a lot of benefits to the position that most students would die for.

As the lad made his way towards them, Illowy's eyes followed, a small smile tugging at the edge of her lips when Killian's interest was pointed out. Wide eyed, he followed the movement of the badge's glint and shine, his paws twitching a little as though trying to fight a powerful urge to lunge for it until the boy returned it to his pocket, "He likes the reflection of it. Like when the sun catches a mirror and makes a spot? He likes to chase it." she explained.

Killian's curious gaze never left the boy as he bent to offer the critter his hand. Happy to oblige, the kitty stood, sniffing his hand thoroughly before gracing the lad with his affection; rubbing his face against the hand before moving closer, having taken the gesture as an invitation to further inspect this new person as he sniffed and rubbed against his leg, "That's Killian... I don't take any responsibility if he sheds all over you." she joked lightly.

"I'm Illowy Magnard." she introduced herself, giving a small bow of her head, "And thank you. He makes it relatively easy to make sure he doesn't get into trouble. He's like my shadow. An incredibly fluffy shadow." the girl chuckled, "Some students certainly struggle more then other's to keep track of their pets though."

"Killian... that's a good name. Of Irish origin, correct?" he asked as he accepted the cat's affection and gently stroked its head, admiring how fluffy and soft the feline felt. Smiling in the corner of his lips he looks up to Illowy and nods slowly "I don't mind, I've had my fair share with the cats that visit back home" he noted, before slowly reaching under the cat's chin and giving it a scratch. Having pets like cats were fascinating, they always gave their master love no matter how they felt or who they were. As well as a loyal devotion that lasted throughout their short life.

After the girl introduced herself, Percival provided a courteous bow of his head in response to hers "Percival Gray" he said to her sternly, beflore looking back down to the kitty who was rubbing against his leg "You'll probably find Killian to be a life long companion now. Just make sure to create memories while it lasts" Gray said. Even though it was quite upfront, he wasn't wrong. Cats particularly only had a twelve year lifespan at most, with some going past that and beyond. In a blink of an eye, the years could fly past in an instant.

Opening his arms he invited the furball to be picked up, almost as a test to see if the kitty had enough trust in him yet. No matter the decision, he'd stand back up and look at Illowy with a slight frown "How have you been, since the attack?" he asked out of the blue, his curiosity getting the better of him as he remembered that horrid day. Gray remembered the girl being there, completely swarmed by spiders that had rushed through the door. Many people got hurt that day, yet he was one of the lucky few that got out unscathed. Hopefully, as the years passed that event would fade into twilight and become a distant memory where it belonged

@Percival Gray

"Aye." she nodded, confirming the name's origin. For a moment, the lad's demeanor seemed to soften under the cat's affections, a shadow of a smile seeming to tug at his lips. Killian certainly wasn't complaining about the extra attention, enthusiastically leaning his head back as the new Prefect scratched under his chin, flicking his tail contently. At such close proximity, Percival might've even been able to hear the animal purr happily. Whatever soft place he seemed to have for the cat, didn't seem to be quite as extended towards her when he brought his attention back momentarily after she introduced herself; his tone alone gave that away. Such a serious boy, wasn't he? At least until he looked back to the cat still pining for more attention. Merlin, you'd think the thing had never been petted before.

The lad's next musing came so... dismally sobering. Certainly she knew he wasn't wrong. Illowy knew that she wouldn't have Killian forever; after all she wasn't that sheltered. However, commenting about the inevitable death of your pet less then ten minutes into formally meeting a person didn't exactly strike as enchanting conversation. By this point the young witch had resolved that this must be his default of demeanor; straight forward, stoic, neutral. So odd for someone so young. Even she knew how to crack a proper smile once in a while, and that was coming from a girl with a decent reputation of not exactly being the most approachable person.

Killian sniffed the boy's hands again as the silent offer was made to hold him; and true to feline form, he pretended like he didn't notice the gesture, giving a big, lazy stretch in the grass before finally obliging as he stretching himself to allow the boy to pick him up; looking not unlike a toddler asking for 'uppsies'. Illowy rolled her eyes at such dramatics as though she didn't oblige the same behavior daily.

When Percival got to his feet, the last thing she expected out of his mouth next was anything to do with the attack on Slytherin, much less the curse. She willed herself not to flinch away from such a question. It had been over a year by this point, so surely she ought to be over whatever self consciousness still remained about the curse's effect on her. Still, such willpower wasn't enough to hid the surprise on her face that he'd asked. Swallowing her nervous around the memory, she did her best to recover from it with some level of grace, "As well as one could be under the circumstances." she answered, "I'm still working on figuring out what the curse is exactly, and how to cure it... not to much success yet though."

Pale eyes flickered up and down the lad. Be it a blessing or a curse depending on your argument, Illowy didn't remember much after she'd been swarmed that night up until she'd started coming to in the Hospital wing, and even that was spotty until after she'd gotten her potion. For most of the attack, she'd been useless because she'd been taken out so quickly. While she knew it was unfair to have expected so much of her twelve year old self, it was difficult to shake the guilt completely. Since, she'd collected a small circle of friends and acquaintances within Slytherin that had been curse, but she hardly new everyone who was. Such things weren't quite considerable for polite conversation, "Were you one of the ones bitten?"

Interacts with @Illowy Magnard

"Good to hear, maybe one day we will not need to mention that forgettable event again. It's only the fact people carry reminders of the bite do we ever think about that day," he said with a small nod to herself, his hand lightly scratching the top of Killian's head with ease as he stood there glaring at the girl. Illowy was right about one thing, not one person was close to figuring out this strange curse, nor how to get rid of it for good. For now, he hadn't seen any side effects from the infected individuals other than a nasty black plague that covered the occupant's skin. Although, who said the effects were delayed? Sooner or later they needed to face this head on.

Staying silent for a few brief seconds he studied the nervous girl, choosing carefully with what he said next "I can't promise you anything Illowy, nor do I want to get your hopes up. But I will do everything within my power to bring more attention to you, and all the infected. I fear we have left this too long, to the point where whatever is waiting inside of you could come out at any moment" the boy said sternly to his housemate, a small from forming in the corner of his lips "I'm no medical healer, but the fact barely anything has happened so far is concerning. A curse is not meant to linger innocently, it's there for a reason"

Deep down Gray hoped he was wrong, that the curse was harmless and only left a nasty black mark. Yet, in his heart, he knew that simply didn't make sense.

Percival looked down at the fluffy purring cat for a few seconds before she asked him if he was bitten. It wasn't the first he had been asked that question, nor would it be the last "No... however, sometimes people can be cursed in different ways" Gray replied in a lowered tone, almost as if he was ashamed of saying it in the first place. Admitting something was wrong always made him feel weak, a feeling that made him uncomfortable to the bone "You could say we're similar in different ways, the only difference being you can't see my marks"

Expressionless, the boy turned his head to the lake and momentarily stopped stroking the ball of fur in his arms, trying to take his mind off the event they were speaking about. Percival surprised himself when he said that, he never really mentioned what was happening up until now. Yet, what he spoke was in riddles for him and her safety. Not one soul needed to know about this, not even the ones closest to his heart

@Percival Gray

His mentality towards the apparent forgettableness of the Slytherin House attack struck her; was that his true feelings towards what happened? In her short life experience, such traumatic events weren't exactly something you could just brush off into a box in the back corner of your mind. After all, tiptoeing down the razor's edge of death filled with constant physical, mental and emotional distress for over a year seemed to her like a lifelong type of memory.

It sparked her interest when he mentioned that people could be cursed in other ways. Of course, she was no stranger to that knowledge, her cousin was a werewolf for Merlin's sake. Naturally she wondered if that was what he was alluding to, or if it was something else entirely. Illowy wasn't much of a fan of riddles and beating about the bush, so his vague musings made her wish he'd just come out with what he was trying to say... though she supposed if he wanted her to know, he'd say it. After all, he seemed like a rather blunt person, "Well, when you're ready, if you're ever ready, to talk about what those similarities are, I'd be open to hearing them. I'm quite a good secret keeper." she assured, offering back a small smile.

The boy at least seemed sincere in his words, trying to offer some kind of hope that a cure would be found; but his phrasing was enough to inform her how unaware he really was of the situation. The curve of her lips fell again, her expression staying soft, "Percival," she began, taking care with her tone since she knew she'd a habit of coming off colder then she ought; which was no way to speak with someone who clearly was wanting to help, "it isn't that its lingering. Its contained. That is the purpose of the Thick Golden potion; it keeps the affliction from spreading. If any of the cursed kids were to stop taking it, they'd reach the end of the line quickly." it'd been made clear to her that she had barely made it through that night with the severity of her own bites. If they'd waited much longer, she wouldn't be standing here now, "People have mostly given up because every theory that they might come up with doesn't resolve well. Every dose of potion is just a bide for another week; and those cursed are just trying to regain some level of normality again and enjoy the time they have left." she explained.

The girl's pale eyes flicked to her cat soaking up the attention in Percival's arms, oblivious to the depressing topic, "Honestly, I can't fault them for it." she mused softly, "But if I had to redo that night knowing what I do now, I'd still put myself between the door and the rest of the house." that wasn't her trying to sound like some kind of hero. That was hardly how she saw it. Illowy still felt some guilt from being taken down so quickly and not being able to fight and protect her house. Truthfully, her whole life had been putting herself between people she cared about and something bad, trying to protect them; and her housemates were no different. Even if she didn't like most some of them, they were still her family too. She'd do what she had to in order to protect them.