Closed A Fresh Perspective PV June

Flowers. June was here to look for flowers. She had an idea in charms class earlier that day that was just brilliant. The best part of June's Hogwarts experience this year had, with no competition, been the actual schooling part of the school of witchcraft and wizardry. The professors who clearly cared so deeply about their subjects, and put care into each lesson, each day. While June wasn't always a fan of the class or the content (especially when she found it difficult to master right away), she respected all of her professors. And so, she wanted to thank them all with a gift. A small gift, nothing special, just a small flower bouquet that she'd pick herself from the grounds.

And here she was, looking for flowers for Professor Horne. Completely focused. Nothing could break her concentration.

"Hey, you!"

Apparently, something could. June looked up to find an upperclassmen Hufflepuff staring right at her. He was looking at her, right? June glanced about. No, there wasn't anyone else close enough for him to be looking or shouting at.

"Me?" June walked closer to the boy, who was standing in the shade of a tall tree. A lush tree, its leaves fluttering in the most beautiful way as the soft spring breeze floated by. "Can I help you?"

"Hello!" the boy said, smiling at the girl he had interrupted. He considered her for a moment. This tree was a good place to forge a friendship, but one couldn't forge a friendship from nothing. No, such a bond required the proper materials. This was just some kid... but she was polite, not shy, and stood up straight to speak to him. Even though she had been snorting for truffles or something with her head down when she walked over. There was potential here to be realized, one way or the other. He thrust his hand out toward her to be taken and shaken. "I'm George Henry! Hufflepuff, third year. The pleasure is all mine."

He turned to face the tree with his hands on his hips, admiring it as if he were standing before some great monument. A monument to nature, and sprained ankles and purple-brown bruises. A tradition that ought to be passed down. He looked to her only briefly as he spoke to her.

"What's your name?" he wondered, circling around the tree as he imagined the best way to approach ascending it. Weak branches, though some looked deceptively strong. He hopped on his toes a bit, feeling his own weight. Too heavy! "And what are you doing with your neck all like that?"

His head swung forward limply until it hung with his chin against his chest, mimicking her search for flowers in the grass. "Oh - also, you can help me. I need to test something," he said. "I'll give you five sickles if you can climb to the top of this tree."

Hello to you too, George Henry." June took the boy's hand and shook it firmly. With each shake, June felt as if his energy was being transferred to her. A bit more "pep" in her step, if you will. "Selwyn, June Selwyn. First-year. Though, you probably knew that already." George Henry seemed personable and energetic, quite a contrast to the other third-years she'd met so far. It was quite nice.

June laughed a bit to herself at George's exaggerated impression of her. "I'm trying to find some flowers for a little bouquet. I'm hoping to deliver it this evening, but," June held out her empty, flower-less hands, "no luck so far."

She stood there, surprised at the request for help. "Um.. Sure, I suppose I could help you with something." What favour could George want from her?

"Oh, climb the tree? That's it?" June looked it, the tree. It wouldn't be her first choice for a tree to climb. She preferred her reading tree that was a bit farther away (though she avoided it on weekends in fear of embarrassing herself in front of Simon Kicaid again), but this tree seemed alright. She slowly walked around the tree, pulling down on some of the lower branches to test their stability. A few of them could hold her weight, definitely.

June turned to George. "Five sickles?" She stuck out her hand, this time for a business deal, not an introduction. Things like this were meant to be done a certain way.

After George had shook her hand and let go, June hoisted herself up onto the first branch. This was going to be easy.

"You look like one," George said, nodding in agreement after her introduction. The first-years were such a funny bunch. They hadn't yet been rounded out by experience, so they ran the gamut from petrified muggle-borns to snooty blue-blooded wizards with family trees taller than the astronomy tower. "No offense - that'll wear off. Did you enjoy your first year at Hogwarts?"

When she mentioned her purpose for being out on the grounds this evening, George raised an eyebrow and fanned himself, letting out an ooo-oooh at that juicy tidbit. "Is that right - flowers for your beau? Or belle. Or what?" This was more interesting than getting her to climb the tree, but there was no reason they couldn't multitask. Another handshake and the girl was already climbing the branches like a little monkey.

"Did you get into the right house, do you think?" George leaned on the trunk of the tree, watching the first year ascend. He lifted his arm, pointing up toward one of the upper branches that ran parallel with the edge of the lake. An ideal angle. "Could you get there?"

He had learned that just asking 'are you a muggle-born?' was a bit of a faux-pas, although he was quite interested in the blood status of the people he met. He knew it wasn't quite politically correct... but it wasn't nothing either. But there were plenty of work-arounds to get the same information out of somebody. "Did your parents go to Hogwarts?"

He counted out some coins on one hand while he waited for her to get up. Looking up from his palm, he found himself sorely disappointed with her progress. He put a foot up against the base of the tree and shifted his weight against it, making the whole thing wobble unsteadily. "Come on now, where's your youthful vigor? You could be at the top by now if you weren't dallying." If she was getting five sickles from this she had to work for it. "I can give you some useful advice for this place, if you like. There's lots of tricks to figure out."

Had June enjoyed her first year at Hogwarts? She paused and thought for a moment. The past month or so had been quite fun, she supposed. Meeting Maggie and some other new acquaintances (most she didn't know well enough to constitute the label of "friend" quite yet) was nice and she'd been invited to a birthday party of an upperclassmen, she enjoyed those two things. But she wasn't sure it was enough to counter the lonely months, lost bets, disappointments and every interaction she'd had with Nia Greenwood.

June sighed, walking to the end of the first branch. "I'm honestly not sure if I enjoyed my first year. I'm just ready for end-of-terms to be over and end my first year." She took a deep breath, afraid to admit out loud that she had not enjoyed her first year at Hogwarts. She'd been looking forward to this for 5 years, and all it turned out to be was a dragon-sized disappointment.

June blushed, hard. She stopped right on her branch, learning against the trunk of the tree to think. A beau? Who would her beau be; Shawn? Leonard Oaksworth? Kincaid? No, no, and no. A belle... After the pride event, June had been thinking a lot about attraction. She hadn't quite come to a conclusion yet, but she could definitely say that she currently didn't fancy anyone at Hogwarts. She shuddered at the thought of a romantic relationship with Shawn. Absolutely not.

"No, nothing interesting like that. They're for Professor Horne. I really appreciated how intentional she's been in her class since she came here. Just a little thank you gift at the end of the year, you know?" June smiled. She realized that she sounded like an absolute square, but she didn't care. She would proudly be a square for those who earned her respect. She pulled herself up a few more branches.

"I suppose so," June's voice was strained as she lifted her body weight, "they say the Sorting Hat is never wrong. I didn't have any expectations or hopes of which house I wanted, so I guess wherever I was sorted would feel "right". I like Slytherin, though. It's not all it's made out to be, there are lots of lovely people there. And the common room is-" June gasped as her foot slipped, quickly regaining her balance. "Close one. Anyways, the common room is just beautiful." June looked down at George, following his pointed finger to a branch near the top of the tree. "There? Sure I can!" She re-evaluated her course before heading up to another branch.

"George Henry, you certainly ask a lot of questions." June smiled down at George, a friendly but teasing tone in her voice. "My father went to Hogwarts, yes. He was a Ravenclaw. I think- Well, I don't think, I know he wanted me to get sorted into his house, but he's not upset. My mum went to Beauxbatons, though. Why do you ask? How about your parents?"

June grabbed onto the trunk of the tree as it began to sway. Was it falling? She looked down again at George, unamused. "I'd be a lot faster if you didn't ask so many questions, George Henry." "Youthful vigor," I'll show you my youthful vigor, alright. June set her eyes on the branch George had pointed at, upping her speed and heaving herself up the tree so quickly that she'd probably have sore muscles in the morning. At last, she had reached the branch. She sat down, dangling her legs over the edge and looking out over the great lake. The sun reflected off the surface of the water, projecting beautiful patterns onto the walls of the castle.

She looked down at George, swinging her legs. "I'd quite like that, actually. Most upperclassmen I've met so far haven't been incredibly helpful. Friendly, most of the time, but not very willing to help out a lonely first-year failing at making friends for most of the year." Her gaze shifted to the ground, too embarrassed to look George in the eye after her sad little admission.

"Next year will be good, be better. I'm looking forward to it. After summer holiday, of course. Any fun holiday plans for you?"

Wow. She had not enjoyed her first year of Hogwarts. Already, George knew for a fact that she was not muggle-born, because he'd never met one that was so ungrateful to be learning magic. George had been set on fire in his first year and, although the memory made him shudder, he'd light himself on fire if it meant he would get to finish his time at Hogwarts in peace. Sadly, no amount of fire would do that. In fact, it only made it worse.

"That's quite pitiful," George observed without sympathy. He did share in her excitement for the end of end-of-terms, however. He needed a long train ride home to sleep on and a shopping trip in Diagon Alley to make it worthwhile. "But you've got a few more years to get it right. Third year's the charm, I say."

Then there was that blush June had on her face after George's teasing. "OOOH! I got you, didn't I?" he said, with a bout of uncontrollable laughter and giggling. "Goodness. Oh, yeah. For Professor Horne, right... well, then... s'pose you've got a type then, mate?"

He snorted a laugh when he was done with that atrocious impression of Australian. George watched her climb, pulling his wand out to point at her prematurely when her foot slipped on the branch. "Watch it," he warned, shaking his head as he held the length of cherry wood by his side - keeping it held close to his robes to hide it from view. Not from her, but from anyone who could be watching and waiting for George to break a rule. "I like Professor Horne too, though. Even if Astronomy is just... dry as bones. I'll throw some chocolates in with it if you'll let me put my name on the card."

Less attention was paid to her opinion on her house. How could someone have no preference? Such people were likely built for Slytherin. Someone with so little conviction in any direction was basically a vessel for evil. Unprincipled - happy wherever she ends up. "I used to be a reporter is why I ask so many questions. I might go back into it, but I don't know. I'm afraid it might get me in trouble if I go back again. On account of all the questions."

The boy leaned back and looked up at her, raising his eyebrows with a suitably impressed expression. An impressive acrobatic display, getting up there so quickly. Now, the only question was - would she be able to stick the landing.

That little comment - about being a lonely first year - struck a chord with him. He frowned up at her - his wand still in his hand, his grip shifting on it as he considered her. It would be horribly cruel, going through with his plan now, dunking the poor girl into the lake after their impromptu heart-to-heart at the tree where he'd made a good friend at her age.

But it would be... just... so funny, too.

"I'm not sure what I'll be doing over the summer. I might stay for camp, if they have it, but my parents said I really need to come home and see my grandfather when he visits," George said. He raised his wand to point at June. "I'm very, very sorry June - but consider this to be your first piece of advice. I tricked you. Not about the sickles- you'll have the sickles. But I wanted to see if I could use the knockback jinx to throw you into the lake."

He shrugged helplessly. It was only business. And evading boredom on a summer day was the most righteous business of all. But he was starting to wonder if he really had the heart to do it... he needed to know she would be okay. It could hurt, just not, y'know - permanently. Bruises are fun, scars less so.

"If you fall short I can catch you. But I don't think you will," he said solemnly. "...Any last words?"

George Henry was a good conversationalist. June hadn't experienced someone so interested in her before; her life, her experiences, her background. It was nice, it made June feel seen. Feel valued.

"That's quite pitiful."

Or maybe not.

"I certainly hope I won't have to endure this until third year. No, like I said, second year will be the year. I'll have a great reputation this time next year, you'll see."

June felt her cheeks flush again before laughing at George's awful Australian accent. "Nononono, it's nothing like that! Merlin, no. Besides, I've never met another Australian, so... So, there, it's impossible for that to be my 'type'."

A reporter? June was impressed. "Wow, really? For a real newspaper or something? Well, if you enjoyed it, you should try to go back. You're very good at this kind of stuff." June smiled, a bit perplexed at what kind of trouble someone as friendly as George Henry could get into. She turned and looked at the lake, enjoying the scenery. This tree, this branch in particular, was perched beautifully close to the lake, painting a picturesque landscape for anyone who sat there. Now she understood why George must have wanted her to climb this tree, to share this beautiful view.

Wait.

"What?"

June's head snapped in George's direction. He stood at the base of the tree, wand pointed directly at June. He... Tricked her? No, he couldn't have. But he certainly looked like he was about to jinx her off out of the tree. Her eyes went between George, his wand, and the lake. The body of water seemed so far away in this moment. June felt her hands begin to sweat, her breath quickening. No, this wasn't happening. She misheard, that was all. But if she just misheard, why was she beginning to worry so much? June cried out in a panicked voice, "I'm sorry, you're going to what!?"

The boy raised his brows again, and bobbed his head as the girl spoke of the reputation she would surely garner by next year. "Ooh, la la," the boy said, in a high-pitched sing song that made his voice crack embarrassingly. He cleared his throat and continued speaking to her. Damn it - she was flattering him now. She must have known something was wrong subconsciously, because she was deploying all the best defense mechanisms against someone with an ego like George.

"Yes, for the Hogwarts Headliner. I'd advise you to read it over the Daily Prophet, honestly. They'll print anything in the Prophet these days... it's a glorified Quibbler," he said, shaking his head with a distasteful frown as he recalled the decline in wizard journalism. All just ragging on Harry Potter and Hogwarts. It was a wonder nobody had done the world a favor and just destroyed their printing presses. He can't help but gloat a little. "Why, thank you! I had a few front pagers, back in my first year..."

But now, she had seen the wand. Things had gotten real real fast.

"Relax! Shh! I never said I was going to kill you or anything, you squealy little kettle," he hissed, quickly tucking his wand down along his wrist to hide it again. He gestured to the tree, and then to the lake. "It's only a short flight, don't get all twisted up in a bunch about it. Look - it'll be fun. Haven't you ever seen... like, diving? It'll be like that."

He gave June the confident grin of a bigger sibling convincing a younger one to do something ill-advised. "It's a simple procedure June, I'm just gonna give you a little dunt, you'll go soarin', you land in the water like a... like a soaring... pelican." He got a little bit more Scottish when he was panicked, looking around over his shoulders to ensure that no professors were in range to physically stop him from going ahead with this. With a flourish, he brought his wand about again. "Alrigh', so, tuck up, three-twone here we go FLIPENDO!"

And so the Slytherin sailed in the air in a beautiful arc. There was no subtlety about it - everyone on the grounds could watch as the jinx thudded into her back and sent her along. Her robes spread out in the air, flapping like a flag in the wind, soaring like a kite before she neared touch-down on the water surface. And just like that, just in time -

"Arresto momentum!" And she was slowed to a landing, close enough to touch the water with her tongue. If she wanted to, I guess. George could be heard cackling, his incessant laughter growing louder until he reached the edge of the water and collapsed onto his knees, still holding his wand up to maintain the spell keeping her out of the water. "Oh my god! That was the highlight of my year! Ahhh... ahh, I'm going to get detention for so long..."

He wiped his teary eyes, still just giggling. "Oh... oh..." He looked from the wand to the girl, waving his wand gently to the side... but she didn't budge. He forgot the limitations of the charm. "Oh. Hm."

He remained on his knees at the lakeside for a few moments longer before standing up fully. "Fair is fair," he said solemnly, before winding up and leaping out into the lake. He landed right beside June as the spell wore off and the two of them splashed into the shallow water. It would be ankle-deep if they were not completely horizontal. A shame he didn't know the drying charm...

June's throat hurt. She was screaming. Loudly. Very loudly. Actually, her back hurt too, but that was out of her control. June felt the security of the branch slip away as she scrambled to grab onto something, anything. Instead, all she was able to do was flail her arms and legs around in a pathetic attempt to... Well she wasn't quite sure, fly? Prevent falling?

Her body twisted through the air, and for a moment, June felt liberated. Free. She was, for a second, flying. On her own. Without a broom, without anything, just her body soaring through the air. It was exhilarating. She felt the same way when she flew on Maggie's broom before she plummeted to the ground, a sense of wonder. June had almost forgotten the last few seconds, forgotten the sting of the jinx. Almost.

All too soon, June's body turned into a nose-dive straight toward the surface of the lake. And it was approaching fast. June held her breath and squeezed her eyes shut, anticipating the cold of the lake to consume her. It didn't come, instead June found her body jerking to a stop as she heard George yell something from behind her. And then she heard him laughing. Hard.

She saw him drag himself to the shore, laughing so hard that he could only crumple to the side of the lake. June was mad. No, more than mad, she was furious. Seething.

"GEORGE HENRY, YOU ARE THE MEANEST, MOST RUDE, MOST IMPUDENT PERSON I HAVE EVER MET IN MY WHOLE LIFE GET ME DOWN FROM HERE RIGHT NOW!" June screamed out in one breath, her voice cracking because of the strain it had just been put under. She stared at the lake, only centimeters away from her face. Her plaits and robe were already drenched, small ripples of water going out from them.

This was embarrassing, humiliating. June was tricked? She didn't think she was gullible enough for that, but here she was. She stared as George tried moving her with his wand. "Idiot, the spell doesn't work that wa-" June felt herself fall, and had just enough time to take a breath before she belly-flopped into the water. Well, there wasn't much water, it was incredibly shallow here. So it was more of a belly-flop-slash-faceplant onto rocky beach as water splashed up around her. Which was much worse. June coughed as she pushed herself up, the front of her robes absolutely drenched. She looked next to her and saw that George, for whatever reason, had jumped right beside her into the water. Odd.

June stayed in that push-up like position for a few moments as her brain tried to comprehend what had just happened. Surely she was dreaming, yes? She winced as she felt pain in her stomach, the adrenaline of her short flight wearing off. She had certainly been scraped up a bit as she fell in. She looked up at George, trying to form words to scream at him, but nothing came out. And so, she glared and prayed that someone had seen and would do something about it, as June was in no state to think practically. All she could think of was wanting to kick George Henry's face in.