A Waterproof Phoenix PV Nic M. & Youssuf B. Finished

Change and self-growth did not come as a natural part of human development, he who wished to adapt had to force himself to do so. Evolution was a process built upon the blood and bones of one’s forebears, thus, it stood to reason that personal evolution would require one’s metaphorical blood, sweat and tears. Nicholas knew what was required to become the best version of himself, a version that would not fear to take what was owed to him, a version that would not gawk and freeze in fear at the slightest beginnings of trouble. The change, the evolution, would need to be gradual, but it would also need to be one of his own making. The best way to achieve such a change had been clear from the outset, he needed to disregard the rules as they were written. No, that was not entirely apt, he needed to set himself out against such rules. Break them for the sake of breaking them, reinvent himself to such a degree that he would no longer fear the cold grip of detention or whatever the professors and the educational institution saw fit to levy against him.

So it was that the opportunity offered by Alec had been too good to pass up. A light bit of rule-breaking, ignoring curfew, followed thereafter by a smattering of hazing. Harmless fun, for the most part, and the sort that was all the more appealing due to its entirely unsanctioned nature. It hadn’t taken much effort on the part of the third year to convince his newly minted co-conspirator. A few choice words combined with smirks and whispers and the wayward Gryffindor had been all on board for abandoning Yousuff to the elements.

He was not aware of the extent of his upperclassman’s plan. The selection of the Great Lake had barely registered upon Nicholas’s mind as anything more than a scenic route for a walk. Perhaps the windchill off of the body of water would make it slightly more unpleasant, it didn’t particularly matter. What mattered was the plan. Abandon the first year in the dark and cold and allow for the boy to prove how much he belonged in the lion’s den. Or rather, in the phoenix pen.

And by all that was holy in creation, it was cold, the sort of bone-biting chill that could only exist in the Scottish highlands. Even the lightest of breezes seeped through Nicholas’s too-thin layers of clothing, rendering the plaid coat and corduroy pants near-obsolete as his skin and blood turned to ice. Still, the adrenaline and childish excitement at the prospect of their prank kept the boy at least somewhat warm, the rush serving to fight against the absolute worst that winter wrought.

Alec’s comment and subsequent eye-contact were all Nicholas needed to understand that their adventure taking place on a night of such unpleasant weather was entirely planned. He had known that Alec had intended for the walk to be cold, but he hadn’t anticipated the degree to which the windchill would hurt. For that was what it was, the blowing of icy wind had long since passed the point of unpleasantness, and the Irish boy forced his teeth to grit lest they chatter. Still, it was a necessary part of the prank, and thus he swallowed his discomfort and disquiet and answered the boy’s smile with a curt nod.

“Bloody ‘ell, Mason,” Nicholas shivered in response, “Last time you choose the day to break curfew.”

Nicholas was no actor, he had not talent nor desire to drift into the realm of the dramatic arts. Yet, he understood that there was a part to be played and so it was that he slipped into the role of accomplice with lazy ease.

“Thought phoenixes were firebirds, not exactly our element,” He added playfully as they wandered toward the lake.

The lake itself was gorgeous. Truly the grounds upon which Hogwarts sat were an absolute picture of naturalistic beauty, from the forest to the mountains upon which the old castle sat, yet it truly was the lake that was the pièce de résistance of the campus. The reflection of the stars and moon upon the surface of the water was magical in its own right, a sort of naturalistic beauty to which the mystical arts employed by man could not ever hope to touch.

Such a sight was broken by the piece of stone that Nicholas threw without ceremony into the body of water. The splash was small, given that the rock was little more than a pebble, but it was soon followed by another. The boy idley played with a third rock, tossing it from hand to hand as he watched the ripples reverberate from where their counterparts had made contact with the water.

It was a good thing that he had distracted himself with the slinging of objects into the water, for Alec’s question would have otherwise sideswiped him.

“Aye, of course, loads of times,” He lied.

Nicholas hadn’t snuck out, hell, he’d barely broken any rules. A swift punch thrown at a frustrating American notwithstanding. That said, he had no intention of allowing his dormmates to know that. He had a reputation to develop, to ferment, lying was simply a part of that. He did not make eye contact with the older boy as he spoke, instead focusing on the dying ripples upon the lake’s surface.

“You seem a proper sort, Baid,” Nicholas opted to expand upon the subject, “Not the kind to snitch or something about this, hey?”

It was somewhat eerie how easily Nicholas found himself falling into the part to which he had been cast, the soft-spoken boy who had first taken that trip to Hogwarts over a year ago fading ever further into the recesses of history. Still, it wasn’t as if he was about to throw Baid into the lake or something.

Stats: STA: 12 | EVA: 6 | STR: 8 | WIS: 6 | ARC: 4 | ACC: 6
Abilities: Foulplay | Statistically Relevant
Tags: @Alec Mason & @Youssuf Baid

Hex color:#A0A9B8
@Youssuf Baid @Nicholas McCowan

It was amusing to the third-year how quickly Nicholas adjusted himself. Playing into an easily foreseen role. It was a cringe-worthy thing, what you expected to read out of a bad book. An inexperienced author writing the side characters people loved to hate. The bullies, one of the many problems of the protagonist. The role was predictable, but somehow, perfect. It would stay that way if everything went to plan. Why wouldn't it? Alec rolled his eyes taking on his own part, this had to look somewhat real and with what Nichoals had said about the cold- “You think you could have done any better?” Alec chuckled, though he really had no interest in if Nicholas could have done better or not in this scenario. Alec's voice would drag on the tone of challenging Nicholas. Eventually moving on from that completely

“It's a balance, we fiery, we need something so the school isn't set on fire with those flames.” Alec stated, as if it was a fact. If Alec had his wand he may have made a gesture with it, mentioning incendio. It was a missed opportunity, with nothing Alec could do about it now.

At the lake Alec had mentioned going out past curfew. Saying it was common, the words came out of his mouth with no care for what they were nor actually how they held up. Luckily Nicholas, whether answering truthfully or in that role agreed with Alec.

Alec's eyes focused on the scene before him, paying more attention as the conversation switched. Youssuf was going on and on about phoenixes, Alec was bored by it, and for the most part tuned out. It was something Alec didn't care for, and was absentmindedly triggering distant memories of a girl who had done the same. Now the difference between her and Baid was the fact that she was that, but in comparison to whatever Baid was, the girl was too the extreme. It was the only thing she talked about. Alec tried to be nice because maybe she had troubles with social stuff, but it was hard for him to keep attentive let alone listen to someone who just kept droning on and on about the same things.

Alec's attention was regained when Nicholas spoke, asking if Baid was the sort to snitch. ...They were doing this, but did Nicholas even have to ask at the point? He had just gone on about the phoenix facts, that was either a future in specialties with magical creatures, or a teacher's pet. Alec thought he knew quite a bit, but he didn't drone on about magical creatures...

“What does being a Gryffindor have linked with not snitching?” Alec asked, he looked more alert. He was replying, to Youssuf. Alec didn't like that anybody upheld the correlation even if Alec hadn't understood what the implication meant. “What's double detention? Detention twice, or double how boring it is?” Alec asked, he was less direct, his voice sounded curious. “I think prefects deal with it, Pendrast seems busy... No idea with what. What does a head of house even do? I know some are professors as well. She isn't anymore.” Alec commented, he wondered if anything he said was actually adding to the covnersation. He was trying to find something interesting to dote on while he was stuck in a situation like this for a quick bit.

Youssuf said betraying his dormmates wasn't smart, and then that he'd never go against friends. “That's good I guess.” If Alec was drinking water he would have spit it out in surprise. Instead Alec stared a bit. Friends. Why did that have to be added there? Did Youssuf think they were friends? That's weird... Even though that is what is needed. Alec glanced over at Nicholas, he wasn't really buying this was he? Youssuf seemed more like the sort who thought one thing was the case because they had no experience, but the second something happened he would change his mind.

Alec placed his focus back on Youssuf, the lake, and Nic with those rocks. “You know the trick to skipping stones mate?” Alec asked Youssuv. Alec looked around before reaching for a stone. “You don't want to pick something too large, and you want something smooth but not necessarily round.” Alec looked down at the stone in his hand, it seemed good enough. “It's supposed to all be in the flick of your wrist,” Alec spoke and tossed the stone, watching as it skipped across the water before it sunk. Alec had changed the subject but maybe it was enough to keep Youssuf occupied for now, and right in the position Alec wanted.

Youssuf replied to Alec, "I guess a Gryffindor is supposed to be loyal, right? And brave? Snitching is what cowards and cheats do. Not exactly traits of a Gryff, hmm? Oh, and I heard from a friend of mine that double detention is detention on multiple days. The record is apparently held by a Gryffindor, I can't remember who. That dude got detention for six months, for two days a week! He must have done something crazy."
He listened to Alec about Pendrast and what Heads of House did to make themselves so busy. "I suppose she organizes all the work of our house and does...administrative work and stuff like that. I dunno."
Youssuf had no illusions about his new 'friends'. He still had no idea why they were hanging out with him. While there was the possibility that they were simply being friendly and helpful (sorta), the atmosphere felt as if they were building up to something. Especially Alec; his body was taut with suppressed tension. Well, anyway, he'd brought his wand along with him (he wasn't an idiot; he was going out with unknown people, the dude was gonna carry protection. Then Alec asked him about skipping stones, and his train of thought was diverted to another station, as it were.
"Sure, man. My house in India has a pond. My big bro taught me how to skip stones. You need a stone with a smooth, preferably straight bottom, so that the friction with the lake's surface is small." He watched Alec's attempt at skipping; his stone went twice before it dipped beneath the rippled surface of the lake. Youssuf searched around for a stone, and found the proverbial perfect choice at Nicholas's feet, almost as if he'd picked it out. He held the smooth, slippery rock in the crook of his wrist and palm. Then he flicked it away.
It bounced once, twice, thrice and then it sank. "Damn. I didn't flick it hard enough."

Another shrug, the reaction serving as outward proof of Nicholas’s ease with the situation. The older boy bit back at his banter with equally playful tones, edged with ice and fire that seemed to make it clear just how much of a facade that sweetness was. They were joking, true, but the jokes were barbed, the subtle jabs were hardly worthy of the adjective. Still, Nicholas did not bite back, even the rowdiest mongrel knew when not to strike. He flicked the rock in his hand up and down, catching it with lazily practiced motions. His focus was upon the familiar motion of the weight lifting and returning from his palm, grazing his fingertips as it did so, the sounds of the water as it rippled and the wind grazed its surface, and notably, not the information posited by Baid about phoenixes.

Nicholas had meant his comment about firebirds to be entirely rhetorical. Alas, the first year seemed to be the sort who enjoyed learning, and who absorbed and shared information as if that in and of itself was a hobby. Nicholas supposed that it was admirable that the boy enjoyed learning so much, but he couldn’t bring himself to respect the boy for it. Thus far in his years at Hogwarts, the type of people who seemed to be engrossed in learning were hardly the types he enjoyed associating with. Discussion as to magical theory and debates were about as interesting as attempting to comprehend muggle music and fascinations. Instead, he allowed his mind to wander, only vaguely tuning back in as Baid reiterated just how little of a snitch he was.

That was good enough for Nicholas, he’d never been the sort to look past the face value of statements. Reading into hidden meanings, lies and honeyed words was entirely exhausting. Better to just say what was on one’s mind, in angry tones if need be. Sure, in thinking that he was discarding his own tendency to hide behind passive-aggression, but such introspection was hardly within the boy’s skillset. At least, not for the moment yet. He was drawn from his own thoughts by a glance from Mason, the look selling his own incredulity at Baid’s comments. Nicholas shrugged in response, he’d zoned out for most of the discussion, having been happy with hearing the Indian boy declare that he wasn’t a snitch. The second year’s face was all but blank, the lack of concern clear upon features of stone.

Although a different type of stone would take over the conversation, the other two boys shifted into a discussion as to how to skip stones. Advice from Mason met with an anecdote from Baid, and then a decent flick from the latter. Thrice the stone skipped before it sank to the depths of the lake. But, Nicholas only watched the boy’s throw with idle interest, it was clear that Mason was shifting his posture and Baid was distracted by the rocks and the water. Let him focus on skipping stones and soon he’d find himself left alone in the cold.

Nicholas shot a sidelong glance at the third-year, quirking his head to the side as he silently mouthed a single word ‘Now?’

It was a question, that much was clear from his raised eyebrows.

Still, he could do his part to ensure that the first year remained sufficiently distracted, “Tough luck, mate,” He offered a smile to the Indian boy, ”Give it another go, yeah?”

He tossed the rock he’d been playing with to the first year, “No rush, just think back to what your brother said.”

Even as he spoke he took a couple of lazy steps backward, obscured by the motions of a stretch.

Stats: STA: 12 | EVA: 6 | STR: 8 | WIS: 6 | ARC: 4 | ACC: 6
Abilities: Foulplay | Statistically Relevant
Tags: @Alec Mason & @Youssuf Baid

Hex color:#A0A9B8
@Youssuf Baid @Nicholas McCowan

How long had they been outside? The cold was starting to get to Alec, an annoyance, it made him want to speed everything up. The plan was to make this more cruel by spening a little bit of time with Youssuff, but the kid piled with the weather, well, it just made everything excruciating. Alec didn't know how long he coul sit by and stand this. The ramble about skipping stones was to waste time, a thing which Alec felt he'd achieved excellently, but it was clear the needed to start to up things a notch, if they didn't nothing else was ever going to get done.

Alec's eyes watched Youssuf intently, he nodded to make himself seem more invested in the conversation then he actually was. Alec wasn't sure if it was the topic that quickly running out his patience for the scheme, or the person presenting it. Nicholas wasn't making it anymore bearable, not that there had been an expectation like such to begin with. Alec watched as Yousuff and Nicholas seemed to be done with the whole little rock conversation and smiled. The game was over, no more tricks or illusions, it was time to end this once and for all.

Alec stood up slowly, picking up another rock as he did. “Hey, Youssuf, the real reason me and Nicholas took you out here was because we we're unsure about you. You know, your a first year, and first years tend to act in certain ways.” Alec explained, the edges of his lips seemed to curl and Alec gently tossed the rock into the lake. He turned to face Youssuf, making eye contact. “Honestly, the plan wasn't just to hang out, but I think your a good guy. A true pheonix.” Alec would reach out, extending his hand to shake Youssuff's. No tricks involved. If Youssuff didn't shake Alec's hand Alec would nod and take it in his stride, still taking the same actions moving forward.

Alec set a hand on Youssuff's shoulder like one would do with a friend. When he spoke, his voice would be barely above a whisper, making sure Nicholas couldn't hear. “However, a nice as you are, it doesn't buy you more time. You've overstayed your welcome here at Hogwarts with that first-year. People are overly to anyone here who's new. I'd say to officially welcome you to the school, maybe it's about time you get a taste of what Hogwarts is actually like.” Alec let go, putting a bit of distance between the two. He knew it was enough for the other to take it as a threat. Giving space for a few quick minutes was vital. “Things are going to change for you and you better get used to it, loser”

Alec took a step closer, then another step, and another. Using the height he had on Youssuf to his advantage, looking down at him, Alec spoke. “Let's hope your a waterproof pheonix, or at the very least let's hope you know how to-” He would cut himself off, followed by him harshly shoving the first year into ice cold water. “-swim.” He would finish his sentence, instantly the adrenaline rush of his actions kicking up. Just in time. Alec gestured at Nicholas with his hand, then backs towards the castle, silently letting Nicholas know that it was time to run. Alec didn't care about the shock value of his actions, Nicholas would have enough sense. Surely Nicholas would get up and run to save his own skin. It would be easier to get caught when one of them had the chance of being extremely loud after being soaked in lake water, meaning they needed to hurry.

Permission was given to god mod Alec shoving Youssuf into the lake.

WARNING: Explicit

Youssuf frowned with concentration, trying to gauge an angle to throw the stone at. Then he sighed with deep irritation and threw the rock down, kicking it moodily. It was bloody cold, way too cold for skipping stones. Even the wind was unpredictable. Then Alec began to speak, and Youssuf turned in his direction. He froze when he heard the phrase 'the real reason', and relaxed as he heard the rest of Alec's statement. A true phoenix, eh? He shook Mason's hand, grinning at him.

Then Alec set his hand on Youssuf's shoulder. Fool that he was, he didn't try to move it away. After all, who would do anything to a hapless first-year? Especially after complimenting him!
Alec bloody Mason, as it turned out. The young boy only started to suspect something when the older guy mentioned something about a taste of what Hogwarts was actually like. Then he tensed, but Alec didn't seem to be trying anything.

Then the third-year phoenix approached him, towering over Youssuf. Youssuf tried to lower his centre of gravity so as to be ready for anything, like his teacher had taught him, but it didn't help him at all.
Alec shoved him into the lake roughly, and for a split second the young Gryff was falling.

Then he hit the water, with an almost electric shock. He didn't feel the cold properly at first. Then he sank beneath the surface of the lake; even here, near the lake's banks, this spot must have been nearly six or seven feet deep. And GODDAMN it was cold. The chill set in almost instantly, burrowing to his bones...he felt so nice and sleepy and almost...warm now...

Then Youssuf's brain reminded him with a jolt that it needed oxygen! His eyes snapped open, and he pushed his way to the surface. As his face broke through the icy waters of the Great Lake, he coughed and spluttered loudly, drawing in deep breaths of life-giving air.

"F*CKING HELL!" he roared in fury as he remembered what had happened. "KUTTE! KAMINEY*! KUTTE KI POONCH*! YOU SON OF A BITCH, ALEC! COWARD ASS! Sorry excuse for a Gryffindor! You call yourself a PHOENIX?! Then why are you running, HUH? Come back and face the consequences!"

He swam and then waded his way to the lakeshore, shivering. He felt frozen to the core, and worse, his wool sweater was sopping wet. That something like this would have happened was just fate (he couldn't have stopped it anyway), but Youssuf had never expected Alec to run like a craven fool. A Gryffindor would have stood and fought, or borne the consequences. He was angry, but he was also very disappointed.

Youssuf sat down with a disgusting squelch on the bench. He wouldn't have figured Alec or in fact Nicholas as bullies. He'd just dry off a bit before he went inside; there was a crisp wind blowing. Well, Youssuf knew how to deal with bullies and raggers. The next time he met either of the two, they'd better be prepared for a good, hard kick in the nuts. He grinned wolfishly. But he wouldn't be greedy; one hurt ought to be more than enough for the pair of them.

Reducio

Forgive the insults, @Nicholas McCowan and @Alec Mason, I had to make it authentic
*Kaminey = bastard
*Kutte ki poonch = literally speaking, a dog's tail, but basically a coward

There had been a plan, a childish plan granted, but it had been put into place before the three boys had set out to see the lake. Yousuf would be abandoned to fend for himself, left alone in the dark and the cold, perhaps he would be caught by a prefect for violating curfew. Nicholas and Alec would retreat to the warmth of their dorm room and snicker to each other over the foolishness of the first year. There had been a plan. Now, it seemed that Nicholas was just as much a fool as Baid had ever been. Things seemed to fall into place in slow motion. Alec had been speaking to Youssuf, and Nicholas hadn’t bothered to hide his contempt. More baiting, more sweet words hiding bitter intentions, the older boy’s toying with his food was almost tiresome. No, that wasn’t entirely apt, the whole endeavour had become tiresome. The conversation about rocks and phoenixes certainly had been, and not for the first time Nicholas wondered why he’d even bothered to allow himself to be talked into the misadventure. Of course, such a worry soon found itself dissipated, replaced by another emotion, one far more primal.

The conversation between the first and third year dulled to nothingness in the back of Nicholas’s mind, his thoughts instead opting to toy with the image of a particular girl’s smile. It was a good memory. A memory that was shattered by the sound of splashing water. Nicholas’s attention snapped back to reality, to the moment, in an instant. He’d expected a sign from the third year. Instead, he found himself caught off-guard entirely. Baid was in the water, Mason was gesturing at him, then running, Baid was swearing in a language did not recognise, then Nicholas too was running.

The screams and shouts of the Indian boy were left to fade into the night as Nicholas’s feet pounded against the snow and dirt, following after the ringleader of their misadventure. His tenuous grasp of control over the situation was entirely lost, he’d thought Alec had let him into the plan, he’d thought there had been an understanding. Evidently, he’d thought wrong.

He fell into pace behind the older boy, his thoughts racing as he did so. The rhythmic steps he took as they ran at least served to ground him somewhat, it was almost meditative, returning to that familiar motion. Yet, he found himself caught halfway between panic and understanding, he was immensely stressed, that was the only word for it, at having been left out of the plan proper. But, part of him begrudgingly had to admit that pushing the boy into the water was a better use of their time than merely abandoning him. Still, that begrudging acceptance did little but fuel the emotion that his panic created, rage, pure and simple. Undiluted, unfiltered, raw frustration.

It was only after they reached their destination, away from Baid, away from the prying eyes of whichever prefect may be patrolling the grounds, that he allowed that rage to turn on Alec.

Nicholas would attempt to push the older boy’s chest, his voice a snarl, his accent thickening to near incomprehensibility, “Dinnae think to bloody well warn me?” The vitriol tasted like acid on his tongue.

Eyes of brown raged with fires of red, his gaze not breaking with Alec’s, “Git,” He practically spat, “Couldn’t think to give me a heads up when you’re pushing someone into a lake? What happened to the bloody plan?”

His words surprised even himself, not his anger, that had been a given. But that he was angry that he wasn’t warned, not that Alec had actually pushed Yousuff into the lake. Surely, the first year hadn’t earned the risk of hypothermia. Had he?

Nicholas grunted, before he ran a hand through his hair, catching thick brown locks as he did so, “If you want my help on something, Mason, you lay it out beforehand. Christ almighty.”

The second year muttered under his breath, mere sounds, not words in truth, before he grunted again, ”We weren’t bleedin’ seen were we?”

Stats: STA: 12 | EVA: 6 | STR: 8 | WIS: 6 | ARC: 4 | ACC: 6
Abilities: Foulplay | Statistically Relevant
Tags: @Alec Mason & @Youssuf Baid
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