Hit the Right Note PV AngelFyre McCubbin F

AngelFyre is moved when @Simon Kincaid plays

AngelFyre stood just inside the room and watched Simon play. Observing people, not talking with them, was always what she was most comfortable doing. Well, almost always. She had discovered early in her life that she often learned more truth about someone by watching them rather than by listening to what they said. What she was learning of Simon in these moments of observing him at the piano both fascinated and moved her deeply.

He had usually been with other students when she had paid any attention to him at all in the past. Unlike herself, Simon seemed to thrive on being around people. He laughed and spoke easily with them and there just never seemed to be any awkwardness in his interactions. Her primary impression of him, even after their conversation the prior evening, was that he was just a pretty laid back kind of fellow. Very even keeled. Listening to him now, however, and watching the grace and expressiveness with which he played, it became crystal clear to AngelFyre that music was much more than just "his thing" as he had referred to it last night. He was there physically as he played, of course, but she saw no sign of the Simon she had been used to seeing. It was as if his whole being was experiencing something completely and utterly transcendent.

As AngelFyre listened, she was unaware that she was holding her breath. She was unaware of the pounding of her heartbeat and the sound of the rushing blood in her ears. She was also unaware of the tears that had been welling in her eyes, threatening to spill over, until that is, one actually did. When she reached up to wipe it away, the music ended, and all was still and quiet in the room.

"Wo," she croaked and cleared her throat in embarrassment. She tried again, but "Wow', was all she could manage to get out, and it came out so much more softly than she intended. AngelFyre had always been a sensitive girl and one not prone to hiding her feelings. Whatever she may be feeling in any given moment was generally written all over face, so when she felt a familiar, tight constriction in her throat in that moment, she knew it meant if she were to attempt to speak any further, she would simply embarrass herself, and Simon, with more of her tears. Instead, she did the only reasonable thing she could do, so she applauded.

Silence had already filled the large room since had brought the song to it's end and it was broken by the girl's voice, as low as it was. Still, it surprised him - not in a scared sort of way - but he glanced up from the piano and looked over his shoulder. He was glad to see AngelFyre and stood, just as she began clapping and his smile only widened.

"Now none of that," he said to her, showing his genuine humility. "I'm glad you came. I mean, I figured you'd come, but you know, there's always things that come up - conversations where one loses track of time, assignments that need finished, or just changing your mind in realizing that something else demands your time more than some piano and second year Hufflepuff housemate." Was he rambling or was he rambling? Oy.

Simon paused, smiling to her, feeling slightly embarrassed but the ran a hand through his hair and brushed it off, trying to get back to his cool collected self. "It was the piano, huh? Couldn't stay away."

"That was a piece I've been working on for awhile. I've got a few in the works. Sometimes my mind wants to focus on one, other times another. I think that one is mostly finished, although I think I'd like to add a bit more between the beginning and middle. It's a slow climb to get to where I want it to be, sort of hits a plateau first and that's where it needs to be perfected a little more..." he paused, feeling as though he was just rambling on far too much and why? Simon looked forward into the once again found silence and smiled a little, maybe realizing why.

"So... you ready to get better acquainted?" he asked, meaning herself with the piano.

AngelFyre Teases @Simon Kincaid

AngelFyre grinned and was grateful that Simon was picking up all of the slack in the conversation after realizing she was in the room. His tremendous enthusiasm to explain what stage of completion he felt the piece was in currently gave AngelFyre the few moments she needed to compose herself. She was amused that it was Simon who appeared to be running off at the mouth this evening, and he even seemed to be a little embarrassed by it just as she had been when she had done the same thing the evening before. Was the running of his hand through his normally perfectly kempt hair a coping mechanism of his own to attain a feeling of calm? It was charming if so. But why was he nervous?

She made her way over to the piano just as she heard him ask if she was "... ready to get better acquainted?" She set her bag down by the bench and then she rubbed her hands together while nodding emphatically when responding, "Absolutely!" Then, out of nowhere, she had the sudden impulse to run the back of her right hand along the ivory keys, so she did -- twice. It was loud and discordant and harsh, echoing through the room, but actually kind of fun.

She tilted her head and looked at Simon, smiling a little impishly. "Not to brag or anything, but, erm, you are not the only composer in the room right now, you know? I wrote that brief little composition myself, thankyouverymuch. I call it," and she paused for dramatic effect before enunciating in a snooty, high-brow accent, "Cacophony." She did not know how to interpret the expression on his face, but she kept going anyway. In for a penny, in for a pound (sterling). "No! No! Hold your applause, please. Or perhaps you might feel my piece is an instance of the absurd following the sublime, in which case I assure you, Sir, you cut me to the quick by dismissing my art so casually."

And with that said, she adjusted her school robe around her in a most lady-like fashion before seating herself upon the bench. She then turned her gaze upon Simon while stifling a laugh.

He would stifle all the rambling now that he was doing so and try to chill. Chill. Simon wasn't always so nervous and maybe it was just sharing his music with others. Most times, he was regarded as "the boy who played the guitar" and nothing more, so when others knew that his musical hobby transferred more into the musical talent and aspiration of writing original pieces - and then so far as to actually hear those pieces - well, that just brought about some vulnerability. Still, the piece not finished nor perfected seemed to satisfy her and he felt appreciative of that.

"Cacophony, eh?" he repeated her title. He knew it was compared to that of a jumbling of sounds in a harsh manner, sort of a clamor of sounds, something that would be described as unpleasant. "Well, I mean...art is art, AngelFyre, love, and if you so wish to express your art then by all means - the keys are ready." But were his ears?

Usually Simon would jokingly call fellow friends by their last name, maybe putting the Mr. or Miss before it like the professors would but he couldn't do so with this Hufflepuff. He had stated it when they first met and he meant it wholeheartedly...her name was absolutely beautiful and he intended to use it as often as he could. It not only was beautiful to the ear but it also rolled off the tongue so effortlessly.

Simon glanced up to some of the portraits that hung above. They were a captive audience as well, whispering amongst themselves about the new girl that had entered the Rehearsal Room. They never had a bad thing to say and seemed to adore anything that was played for them, even the Hufflepuff girl's possible Symphony of Random.

He moved over so she'd have more room on the bench to sit and smiled over to her. "Go on then, show me what you've got."

AngelFyre plays for @Simon Kincaid

All joking suddenly aside, she was gobsmacked nervous now. One thing AngelFyre detested was a spotlight. No matter how well she did something, invariably she would flub it up royally the moment she knew, or even suspected, she was being watched. She caught Simon glancing around at the portrait people, and she smiled somewhat timidly at them. Still, something told her she was in a safe space when with Simon, so she placed her fingers on the keys like she had done so many times on the piano at home,and without saying another word, she closed her eyes and began to play.



She surprised herself. She truly did. She had not played that in well over a year, but as she had hoped might be the case, years of practicing it had instilled a certain muscle memory. She got through it with only a few minor mistakes, and really, few people other than the musically gifted Simon would probably even have picked up on them.

Still looking at the piano keys, afraid to look at him, she said, "I have zero aptitude for writing music, so you have my complete respect and admiration for what you are able to do in that area. I did not get a chance to tell you when I first got here, because your composition was so beautiful it choked me up a little; it moved me a great deal, Simon. Not just the beauty of the melody itself, but watching you play it. It was like seeing you transport yourself .... to.... " she struggled to find the right words and gave up looking for them, deciding perfection was less important than simply finishing her thought, "... to ... somewhere away from everyone and everything."

She was silent for a couple of breaths, softly pushing a black key down repeatedly, but with so little pressure no sound was being made. When she continued, she turned slightly to look at him and said, "My piano teacher always said I had a good ear for music in so far as I could parrot back the notes I heard, but she felt I lacked any true expressiveness when playing. After seeing and hearing you play, I think I understand now what she meant by that. I chose that piece because it is the piece I know best and the reason I know it best is it is my mother and father's song. I played it for them on their 10th wedding anniversary."

Looking back again at the keys, she kept softly fingering them but making no sound. Unsure what to do or say next, she said and did ... well.. nothing.

The people in the portraits above clapped and cheered for her, welcoming and approving of their newest performer and her piano piece. Simon glanced up to them, giving them a bit of an unsure look because AngelFyre seemed to be somewhat bashful and sensitive at times and a couple picked up on it, lessening their cheers and clearing their throat, delivering a message of congratulations and work well done.

In several ways, hers was a more complex melody than his own. That's what he was still working on - complexities within his own pieces. Simon glanced down before glancing up to her and just shaking his head. If she thought she needed to work on her piano skills, damn. Looked like Heart and Soul was out of the equation. She was rather passed that.

"Well, I think I'll agree with your music teacher on that you have a good ear for it," he smiled. "That's an amazing present you gave them, I bet they loved that." Music was something loved within his own household and when the song carried meaning, such as being their song, he knew they both would have had to appreciate their daughter's playing of it. It made it all the more special.

He looked down to her hands, moving across the keys but no longer actually playing any notes. "Back home, is it only you and your parents?" Maybe she had siblings too, but somehow he thought maybe if she had, they'd be involved in the music rendition of the parents' song. He hoped it was okay to bring up the subject. She sort of broached it already with the mention of the song and so he felt it was a good opportunity to learn more about his new friend. Sometimes though, people could be sensitive of such a topic.

He moved his hands too across the keys, finding just the right place. He then looked at her, giving a big smile before starting the running melody part in the background. So he changed his mind. It was time. Heart and Soul.

AngelFyre laughed delightedly when Simon started up Heart and Soul. She jumped in a little too late at the start, but she corrected quickly and performed her half of the duet most admirably, for the most part. The muscle memory was not there for that piece as it was for the Rachmaninoff, but the flub ups made it almost more enjoyable because it is such a light hearted piece and it was just plain fun to play. AngelFyre could not be certain because she really was having to look at the keys, but she thought she saw a couple of the portrait people actually swaying to the music. Perfectly delightful!

When they had finished with a flourish and were both in high spirits, AngelFyre found herself happy to answer Simon's question about her family. She was eager for the chance to learn more of him as well. After she took a sip of her water, she began the tale of her first life, the top notes anyway. Details could always be saved as points of conversation for other meetings. And AngelFyre hoped there would be other meetings.

"Yes, I am an only child, but it is not just me and my parents. My maternal grandmother, Grandma Ruth, whom I just adore, lives with us as well. We are a muggle family. I have basically lived my whole life unaware that magic even existed. It still boggles my mind when I really stop to think on it.

Annnnnnyway, we live on a beautiful, expansive farm in Stenton, close to Dunbar, which is near the Eastern Lothian coast. Are you familiar with that area at all? It is very different geographically than the Highlands we presently find ourselves in, but I just love it there. My father is Scottish born and my mother and grandmother are American. I was born in Edinburgh, but it baffles my father how I can live here and not have a lovely Scottish brogue. Music I have an ear for, but accents? Not so much. He says he cannot believe he is surrounded by three female 'Amurrricans' in his own homeland, let alone his own home." She paused briefly, smiling at the memories.

She took another sip of her water and this gave her time to try and gauge if she was boring him to death or if he was honestly interested. He seemed genuinely interested so she continued. "I have a three year old Irish wolfhound who is a giant of a beast, but a gentle giant at that. Her name is Hillary and sometimes I think that she is my soul twin in a dog's body. Being away from her has been one of the hardest things for me while here at Hogwarts because we went everywhere together. I have been able to owl my parents, of course, but there has been no way to explain to Hillary my absence, and it sometimes hurts my heart to think she may feel I have abandoned her. I was greatly relieved to find she clearly does not hold any grudges because she was overjoyed to see me when I went home for winter break. Truth be told, I was also afraid she may have forgotten me, but I should have known better." She stopped again, briefly, and smiled at the memories of Hillary greeting her at the train station in Edinburgh. "People sure cleared a path when they saw her barreling towards me on the platform."

"You told me last night that music is your main driving force and I guess I would have to say for me it is animals. I love animals and they seem to love me as well. I think they know when someone is kind and is going to be good to them. The great thing about living on the farm is there is definitely no short supply of animals. It really is not a working farm in so far as my parents making money on animal husbandry. Far from it. We have our menagerie because Mom and Dad know what the beasts of the world mean to me. Most of our crew came to us as runts, geriatrics, or maybe with some kind of lameness. No matter to me, or to my parents, thankfully. They are always welcome with clan McCubbin." She knew she must be shining in some fashion. She just had to be. Thinking of the farm always warmed her soul.

She was so utterly relaxed it astonished her. But now it was her turn to learn more of him. "And you? Do you have any siblings? Do you come from magic?

He listened as she talked about her farm and he smiled a little, because he was so not a farm person. If he would have met her before Winter Break, he would have had zero experience with farm life but over the break he had taken a few days and visited his friend Clair Fernandez on her family farm and it was - well, quite an experience. Need less to say, Simon Kincaid could still state that he was not a farm person and the city is where he belonged. Part of him wondered if her heart would forever be on a farm or if someday she might consider not living on one.

Simon watched her with interest, his eyes connected with hers even as she paused to take in a drink of water. There was something about AngelFyre McCubbin that not only caught his attention but captured it and she had his full attention in that moment.

She talked about loving animals and he smiled, feeling that someone had to be quite a compassionate person to have a love of animals. AngelFyre seemed most compassionate to him. The fellow Hufflepuff then turned the conversation back to him and he paused a moment, thinking there was no way that someone like him could sound remotely interesting to someone like her. Still though, he welcomed the opportunity for the two to perhaps get to know each other a little more.

"No, no siblings here and while my mum did attend Hogwarts, I never knew of the magical world existing before I got my letter," he said as he brought his hand along the keys of the piano, trying to keep with the song of Heart and Soul while he talked. At one point his hand brushed against hers when he tried to hit some of the notes not close to him and he took a moment to pause as a sort of silent apology, his brown eyes connecting with her gaze. She had beautiful eyes.

The silence could have lasted only a moment or it could have lasted far too long, Simon really wasn't aware of the relation of time at the moment. It wasn't until it sounded like one of the portraits tried to help him out by clearing his throat that Simon continued.

"Uhh, but yeah," he stumbled a little at first to get his bearings back. She had mentioned a little about her family and where they grew up so now it was his turn to do the same. "So my mum never told my dad about my existence and therefore he's not really in the picture?" It was half statement, half question. "That's kind of a story for another day. I can only bore you so much at one time, yes?" he smiled widely. "Which I don't mind going into...I just don't want to scare you away." His words got a little softer there as he meant it in the utmost sincerity.

"My mum...was a Gryffindor and she really did embody bravery. Just after graduation she had a house to look after and a sister to help raise and her parents' death to mourn, then I come along and make it more of a whirlwind. Not long after she got sick and she died when I was three. My Aunt Maggie raised me ever since, starting at the age of seventeen. We've got a strong bond but she's a lot more relaxed as a parent figure than any of my friends' parents have ever been - by stride."

"We live in a townhouse in South Kensington, in London. Have always lived there. It's been a great place and I'm happy to call it home. There's always something to do there, no matter what time of day."

"Anywaysssss," he tried to state it the same way she had and flashed another smile, "Aunt Maggie didn't tell me about mum being a witch until after I got my letter. She was muggleborn and Aunt Maggie never got a letter, just my mum. She could only share what she knew and that wasn't a whole lot. She thinks my mum didn't want to ever make her jealous. I was pretty amazed at my trip to Diagon Alley and then I got here...finding out about the spells, potions, dragons,..the DRAGONS." Yes, the dragons amazed Simon Kincaid a little TOO much and the boy would probably pick dragon tamer as his career path right now if one had to pick in their Second Year. Luckily, all that wasn't until down the line and somewhere along his journey he would discover wanting to become a healer.

"I'm glad though, the magic. This world is amazing and I'm fortunate to be a part of it. I'm lucky, because I get to know it's all there and I get to sit beside some pretty incredible people on this journey. Some...beautiful and incredible people," he threw that out there, a slight hesitation when he said it, but the words still strong. He meant it, so much - but he also was nervous saying it. This girl though, she was something incredible, and he hoped she knew it.

"Do you dance, Miss McCubbin?"

AngelFyre Grows Closer to @Simon Kincaid

AngelFyre was suddenly aware of some tectonic shifts having taken place. It was unlike anything she had ever experienced before and she was a little uncertain of what exactly was happening as things seemed to continue to change quite rapidly. It was evident to her that the enthusiasm she had derived from speaking about her love of her farm and animals was hers alone. And that was fine. She was never one to believe that everyone has to like what she likes. Differences made the world a far more interesting place in her mind. Still, she had felt a tension rising in Simon when she was speaking of the farm, even if that had been temporarily eclipsed by her own euphoria. It was subtle, oh so subtle, but of course, it would be. He was far too polite to be anything but an engaged listener, but she sensed a bit of… what? Disappointment, maybe? Yet, whatever his internal struggle, she was gratified she had not sent him running for the hills. He was still here, for the moment anyway.

She learned they had some basic things in common. Neither had siblings and they were both relatively new to magic, even though his Mum was a fellow Hogwarts alum. That last part was a particularly huge relief to AngelFyre because it meant right out of the gate that Simon had lived in the world of Muggles and would understand her pop culture points of reference. He could be a living, breathing touchstone to a past she did not want to lose entirely, no matter how fantastic the world of magic was. She was already excited to hear everything he was about to tell her. She was even swaying just barely as he was playing Heart and Soul again while telling his story… and then…the touch. His hand brushed against hers, and as it had been the evening before, it was uncommonly cold. But…. then...

Music stopped. Talking stopped. Time must have stopped as his sweetly apologetic gaze locked onto hers, holding it while turning into something decidedly unapologetic. Had his eyes always been that gorgeous shade of golden brown? I mean seriously, how had she not noticed it before now? They were mesmerizing. The brown of his irises were flecked with the most intoxicating bits of caramel, cinnamon, and honey. She smiled and probably blushed when one of the kindly portrait people shuffled and cleared his throat a bit, dragging her back into a world where time inevitably marched onward.

She was charmed that Simon floundered momentarily to get back on track with his story, and then almost as quickly her heart broke for him and then rallied for him as he told her about the death of his Mum and his father not being in the picture. Hearing about his Aunt Maggie just made AngelFyre want to meet her someday. She sounded amazing and Simon clearly thought the world of her. Learning even this much about him made her want to know all she could of him. So many questions to ask and so much she hoped he would tell.

While listening to his excitement about magic and Hogwarts, she had to admit that it ignited a bit more interest on her part for the wizarding world than she had experienced up to this point. His unbridled enthusiasm for it was simply contagious and she was laughing once again, feeling the heaviness lift. “Yes!! DRAGONS! Oh my gosh!?! I am right there with you, laddie,” she said in an attempt to mimic a Scottish brogue. Her father would be proud.

With their laughter and excitement subsiding a bit, she brushed a tendril of hair away from her face and felt the welcome nervousness emerge once again as Simon's expressions of a more personal nature seeped into her consciousness. Taking a few moments to just revel in his words and their possible implications, she heard him ask, "Do you dance, Miss McCubbin?"

“I do indeed, Mr. Kincaid.”