closed A quite day at the lake or Not?

Dialogue: English | Mandarin Thoughts: X

Thursday, 16th March, 2023 | 7:30 am

Thurday morning was a morning like every other for Ying. She had woke up very early for her morning exercises' routine, the only different thing that day was that this time she would have the pleasure to share that leisure and precious time with her friend and dorm mate, and she was happier then never!

Getting dressed with her school robes and ready for embracing the new day, Ying and Alana left their Hogwarts' tower and walked downside towards the Great Lake. That day had born with a beautiful and warm sun light. Its rays were slowly and shyly appearing from behind the far horizon line at the other side of the Great Lake bathing the landscape with his yellow and orange colors. The deep and dark waters becoming alive with its warm touch. Ying had to stood for a while, closing her eyes and letting the new light enter her through her thin eyelids. It was a calming moment that filled her with pure, invigorating energy. It always had been her favorite way to start a new day, embracing what nature was offering her and preparing her mind and body to go through whatever would be her daily challenges.

When she finally opened her eyes, she took a deep breath and a smile came to her lips before she looked the way where supposedly would be Alana. But her friend was no longer at her side and Ying's smile faltered a little when she felt a little sting of concern. She looked around but couldn't find a sign of the beautiful red-haired, "Alana?" She called, but before she could start panicking a voice came from down below a steep little slope no far from her current position. In an accelerated pace, Ying walked to the edge of the little slope. Down there was her friend standing next to a pile of something that looked like pieces of clothes. "I can't see anything Alana!" She said in a strong voice, placing her hand on her forehead shielding her eyes from the rising sun to look at the extension of the lake, "You think someone is in the lake? Taking a morning swim or something?" She asked, "I don't think someone would forget their clothes...I mean...they would be...you know? Naked?" She argued. Just the idea of meeting someone in those preparations made her feel a mix of awkwardness and amusement. I mean...it would be hilarious and embarrassing at the same time no doubt!

Was when Ying started to go down towards her friend's side that she noticed some unusual movement at the slightly waving dark waters. She immediately took her wand from inside her robes' inner pocket and pointed it towards whatever was emerging in there and placing herself between it and her friend. Any creature or threat from the lake that appeared would have to get past her if it wanted to do any harm to her and her friend.

Interacting with: @Alana Dibble | @Colin McCoire

Attire: Usual weekend kit: Slytherin pride, kilt, no shoes, wolf fang necklace, feathers in his braid.

Reducio

Early mornings were soooooo the best at Hoggys! It was five thirty when Colin tore out of the courtyard and bolted down onto the grounds! It was still quite cool out from the night and Colin slipped out if his black and green shirt, tied it around his waist and began the long charge up to the high meadows above the castle! The wind in his hair and over his skin was exhilarating! But nowhere near as much as the thought of a certain girl --- Clair! His heart thumped fast as his bare feet carried him higher and higher! He ran as fast as he could to get up to the old stone outcropping.

He was determined to bring Clair up here one day soon! The view was so spectacular and the sight of the mountains of the Highlands beyond Hogwarts and Hogsmeade took his breath away. Taking a little rest, just to admire it, he looked up into the sky, a very pale whitish before the dawn, and the last of the stars winked out, unable to compete with the advance of the Sun and her glorious rays! Colin ran again! Higher into the meadows he leapt and tumbled about.

And just before the first rays of sunrise broke, Colin charged down the long slope of meadow, towards the Lake. His feet reveled in feel of tall grasses and wildflowers, just beginning to bloom. And then he reached the grassy lawns of the grounds around the castle, with their herb and vegetable and magical plant gardens all around.

Colin felt quite warm as he got to the lake. There was a bit of a slope ahead, and he took that at a run! He got off his kilt and everything and, carelessly tossing his clothing aside near the stump of a tree, plowed into the cool dark waters of the Lake! The chill of it made him inhale sharply, but without slowing, he plunged in.

He paddled around, not too far from the banks of the lake, and decided to explore a bit. Colin hadn't done any proper lake shore expeditions in quite a while, and decided that today would be a good day for it! As he swam along, much of the lakeside was crowded with trees and rocks. Rocks were always interesting.

People thought all they did was just sit there. Unmoving. Careless. Heedless to the goings on around them. But as he swam along, Colin reckoned that rocks had a secret life that people either couldn't or wouldn't fathom. As the Sun peaked her gaze over the horizon, Colin dipped under the water. It was a nice sandy area, and Colin found some clues in the sand that students had been here before. There was a discarded old ink bottle with a Ravenclaw crest on it. He found a tatty old scarf of uncertain provenance and a curious silvery bangle. He went up for a breath and then dunked back down to retrieve the bangle and the bottle.

Standing up in the water, it was only about belly deep here. The bottle was really cool and looked really old. "Probably someone threw you in here centuries ago! But I've got a Ravenclaw lass that can always use another ink bottle!" He didn't have a bag or a pouch on him --- Colin thought he would have to rectify that situation next time he decided to go out for a watery expedition. You always had a have a pouch! You never knew what you were going to find! So, he tucked the ink bottle into the strands of one of his braids. The bangle was way too large for his wrist, and even too big for his arm! Colin wondered about that. "Hmmm. I wonder of ye belonged to a giant at one time! Ye're probably just right for me leg, though!" And with that, Colin slipped the the piece onto his left ankle and smiled. That felt good! He'd never worn an ankle ring before, and decided that he would from now on.

All the while he swam back, he considered the lives of rocks. They were hardly the unmoving things people said. They just reckoned time and space differently, right? Way back when the Earth was hot, these rocks would've been swimming lakes of magma! Just because it was too cold for them now, doesn't mean they're lazy at all! Colin knew all about the Frost Giants, too, that once inhabited the northlands. He took a deep breath and went under the water to swim there for a bit. He was pretty close to where he'd left his clothes. Yeah, the Frost Giants. Famous for playing bowls with huge boulders. Colin smiled at his pun. And all this country was theirs, one time, during the Ice Age.

Then he thought about Clair again. And she was going to the ball with him and all! He smiled under the water. His heart pounded at the very thought! Oh my God! He just had to shout it out! There was no alternative! And with a last burst of speed, Colin broke through the water! He shook his long hair like a wet dog and found that he was stood in hip deep water facing out across the lake." WHOOO!!" He took a deep breath.

He struck a pose with his fists up above his head and shouted across the water: "CLAAAIIIRRR FERNANDEZ!!! IIIII LOOOOOVVVVVEEEE YOUUUUUUU!!!!" The he turned around, shaking his head again! His eyes were closed as he sloshed through the shallow water. "WOOO! Clair, lassie ye're so awesome!!" Colin reached up to rub the water out of his eyes and push his dripping hair back. "I---!"

Colin stopped short. He froze. Water dripped from everywhere like a waterfall. His eyes opened wide! His jaw fell. Two Gryffindork girls stood at the lakeside. Colin's hands were still on his head! He was trying to process what was happening! There was no one here when he first plunged in! He couldn't have been out very long, could he have? Where did these two come from?

One was a red head and the other had dark brown hair. They were both short --- goodness, the taller one probably just about came up to Colin's chest! They were both pretty cute! Like really cute! Colin smirked. But why were they just standing there looking at him? He put his hands down to rest on his hips and raised his left eyebrow at the Gryffs. "Um! Hi? Haven't ye two lassies ever seen a boy swimming before? I mean, it's not like I---"

Colin stopped short. Colin blinked. His eye caught a bit of colour up by the tree stump behind the girls. A flash of blue.

Oh crap.

Colin began to turn red. Slowly at first. From his chest all the way up to his silvery blond hair. His ears were hot. His eyes flicked between those of the girls' and the flash of blue. The hem of a pair of Ravenclaw boxers.

@Alana Dibble | @Fang Hui-Ying || Mentions @Clair Fernandez

Alana's gaze went towards the white haired older boy in front of them. The red haired girls face started to turn just as fiery red as her hair. The silence seemed almost deafening for a second as the wind blew gently by. Alana blinked slightly in confusion before the red haired girl sighed shaking her head a bit.

The young fiery red haired girl noted that the older boy was quite embarrassed. Alana definitely understood why. Anyone would be embarrassed especially if they were just caught in the state the boy was in. Alana glanced down at the pile of clothes before thinking her next moves thoroughly. The young first year girl looked up at the sky as the clouds drifted by lazily.

"Would you like your knickers? Or are you just gonna stand in the water dazed?"

Alana spoke bluntly, but with a caring tone hinted in her words. The young girl remembered many times in her home town of Hastings of incidents similar to this that have happened. Especially the one time that her brother Maxwell was swimming with his friends and they stole his clothes the poor boy ended up running home bare naked.

Alana felt the best way for this situation was to not look directly at the older boy after all that would be quite rude of her after all. Alana felt like it was in her best interest to watch the clouds drift by, along with listening to the birds sing their morning songs and the sound of the soft ripples from the Great Lake. Alana also noted the soft sound of water falling and hitting the water from the older boys hair.

Alana wanted an adventure today, but even this maybe to much of an adventure. The young girl honestly had no idea what to do besides keeping her gaze distracted from the older boy. She did not want to come off as rude or anything.

Dialogue: English | Mandarin Thoughts: X

Thursday, 16th March, 2023 | 7:30 am

Ying tightened her hold on her mayhaw wand, aiming it at the moving figure that was emerging from the lake. Her mind raced with thoughts about the merpeople and giant squids. What if it was one of those things? What could she do about it? She started to think about all spells she had already learned and mastered, but non seemed good or powerful enough for her to defeat one of those creatures. What about Alana? She had at least to be able to help and save her friend, even if she would only be able to gave her some time to run away from trouble. She then decided to crouch down and pick up the biggest rock closer to her with her empty hand. At least if she fail her spell she would have a rock to throw at whatever was coming their way.

Suddenly a sound of splashing water came as the same time has a head full of blond hair came to surface. It looked like his face was being eat by a colorless giant seaweed until he shook his head in a very looking dog style and released an euphoric "WHOOO!!". Ying found herself not being able of any reaction, just opened her mouth slightly in astonishment and dropped the stone back to the ground. Not satisfied enough with the whole show he was putting on, he also had to scream a girl's name at the top of his lungs. Ying still didn't knew what to do, her brain seemed not being able to absorb all absurdity of that whole situation.

Was just when he finally turned around that she seemed to snap out of her trance. He was looking at her and Alana with the same expression as she was looking at him. With his hands behind his head, he did looked like someone that had been caught doing something wrong until a smirk came to his lips and he started to greeting them, "Um! Hi? Haven't ye two lassies ever seen a boy swimming before? I mean, it's not like I---" he started to say. He's not like he what? He seemed to have his eyes locked at some point between her and her friend and Ying quickly looked behind her. Her first thought was that some professor or prefect had found them there and she immediately felt her blood freeze when that thought struck her mind. But… there was no one there, so what the hell was he looking at?

"Would you like your knickers? Or are you just gonna stand in the water dazed?" Alana asked and Ying looked at her with a frown trying to understand what was happening in there. Knickers? Does she meant...OH! Ying looked again at the boy that now was violently blushing and in an instinct she covered her eyes with both hands and went hiding behind Alana, "Alana..." She whined, "what do you mean? Are you going to give it to him?" She asked blushing just with a thought of getting closer to a naked boy. Her red-haired friend was looking at the sky instead of looking at him and Ying thought how would she be able to do it while looking at the clouds. Ying slightly picked over her friends shoulder to see if the boy hadn't moved yet from his place...it hasn't been the worst thing she had ever seen in her life she thought smiling cheekily. Although...he probably would be freezing in no time by staying in there and the dark-haired girl felt like she should help him in some way.

Clearing her throat, Ying came from behind Alana, with her back to the boy she picked up his blue boxers with the tip of her wand. Now...the worse part was...how to give it to his owner? Slowly she started walk backwards towards the edge o the lake. When her heels touched the cold water she stopped and stretched out her arm with her hand holding her wand with the boxers, "Take it!" She said in an almost commanding voice, "And don't touch me please!" She added. She looked at Alana with the most embarrassed expression while she waited for what the boy was going to do.

Interacting with: @Alana Dibble | @Colin McCoire

Colin shook his head, as if to clear his mind, when Red asked him if he wanted his boxers back. She used a queer word for it. It sounded like something his seanmamó would say! He laughed and plowed through the water, back towards the edge of the lake. As the water got shallower, it got easier to slog through.

"YEEP!" he called out happily as he skipped through the last could yards of shallow water. The dark haired girl seemed to be hiding behind Red. Colin wondered why. "Are you okay lass? Why are you hiding behind Red? It's just us three here, right? There no monsters here!" Colin looked around, just to make sure.

For some reason Red started looking up into the sky. Colin now stood at the water's edge, just a few yards away from the girls. It was only up to his ankles here. He got a better look at the girls now. Red had really pretty greenish eyes, like the sea. And the brown haired girl, well, she looked --- vaguely familiar! But --- who did she look like? Colin's curiosity finally got to him and he too looked up into the sky. It was really pretty!

Colin smiled. He thought of Clair, and her oh so blue eyes! He said under his breath: "Eyes of Sky!" Colin sighed! It crossed his mind that she'd be wearing the blue stone he gave her, when they went to the ball! That would soooo awesome! After a moment, Colin got curious again. He lowered his gaze to focus on the red haired girl. "Um. Lass? Why are looking up at the sky? Do you see something there? Is there a dragon or something?"

Wait.

Colin's mind demanded that he go back a bit. What was he missing? Nick. Knickers? Knick --- boxers! He watched as the dark haired girl turned away and walked over towards --- oh.

Wait!

Colin's eyes flew open! OH CRAP!! He was standing right in front of Red. In all his glory. Oh no! She was blushing. Dark Hair was blushing. Colin was blushing all over again!

"Um!" Colin squeaked. He stood still. There was nowhere to turn. Nowhere to go. So he just stood there. His eyes darted from girl to heap of clothes. Dark Hair lifted his Ravenclaw boxers up with her wand. Gosh, it wasn't like he cooties are anything! Colin looked down. "Welp, Red. I reckon a necklace and an ankle ring don't cover much do they? Er." Colin gingerly stepped up onto the grass of the bank. Dark Hair told him to get his boxers. "Um. This wasn't quite what I had in mind when I dunked in after me run! OOF!"

Colin's toe caught on a root which sent him tumbling towards the girls! All the colour drained from him! He found himself about a foot away from the girls! He groaned. "Oh, what's Clair going to say when she finds out about this!" He lifted his boxers from Dark Hair's wand, and as quick as a wink pulled them on over, well, everything.

Standing back upright, Colin took a deep breath. Thankful that was over with, he nodded. "Whoa. Well lassies, that doesn't happen every day! Mischief managed I'd say! So." He looked from one to the other, far more comfortable now. "So, I'm Colin! What's yer names? And what brings ye two lassies down to the lake this fine morning!?"

@Alana Dibble | @Fang Hui-Ying || Mentions @Clair Fernandez

Alana glanced over at colin sighing softly. The red haired girl grinned brightly her face was still tomato red after seeing Colin in all his glory. The young eleven year old was not expecting any of this especially so early on in the day. Alana let out a soft chuckle the red haired girl seemed to find the older boy rather silly after all he seemed slightly clumsy as well. Her sea-foam teal eyes stared up at Colin her face still red making her freckles pop.

"My name is Alana Dibble! It is nice to meet you Colin. We were just exploring taking a walk really. It is quite a nice day!"

Alana spoke gently with an ecstatic tone her eyes shone with happiness and interest. After all the day was just beginning and looked quite beautiful with the suns rays radiating down onto the still lake. As it seemed to ripple every now and then. Alana turned her attention to Ying smiling brightly at her giggling slightly at her blush stricken face. Even though the young girls face was also blush stricken as well. Alana turned her attention back to Colin cocking her head slightly to the right the young red haired girl seemed curious about something after all the older boy seemed to keep shouting about a Clair and Alana was very curious who that was.

"Who is Clair? You shouted her name when you came rushing out of the lake basically professing your love. Is she your girlfriend?"

Alana spoke curiously and maybe a bit in a curious blunt manor though it was out of pure curiosity maybe it would come off rude to other people. But Alana was curious after all the older boy seemed to be shouting how much he loved Clair. Along with going into a daze every so often as well.

Dialogue: English | Mandarin Thoughts: X

Thursday, 16th March, 2023 | 7:30 am

Is he really asking why am I hiding? Ying though in disbelief while still crouched behind Alana. Was the boy used to be in those prepares in front of strangers? Ying, carefully but curious, picked over her friend's shoulder towards the Lake Boy. What she saw, made her quickly turn her back, now she understood why Alana was looking at those clouds. "Oh! yeah...I'm totally fine!" Ying replied almost yelling to the blond haired boy, feeling her cheeks like if she had her face to much close to fire, "Just us three..." She cried in a whisper, "Are you used to this?" She asked incredulous towards the boy behind her, "Never mind! I don't wanna know!" She informed almost in despair.

If Ying could, she would have thrown his clothes at him with a spell...unfortunately, that was a spell she hadn't learned yet. So she had to use her wand a different way. A less magical and graceful way, but well...Ying hold his blue boxers with the tip of her wand...Wait, Ravenclaw? She thought when noticing the Raven's crest in it, That doesn't seem like a Ravenclaw behavior...Wasn't he supposed to be wise? She thought surprised while reaching it to him.

After a moment of clumsiness, where Ying closed her eyes praying for him not to fall over her and Alana, the boy seemed to have finally manage to dress at least that piece of clothes. Ying gave a deep breath feeling relief, she turned around, now being able to face the boy without feeling her cheeks turning into a tomato color like.

"Whoa. Well lassies, that doesn't happen every day! Mischief managed I'd say! So." He said looking at them, Ying couldn't avoid the small chuckle that soon transformed into a soft laughter. She covered her mouth with the back of her hand to help her contain her amusement, still feeling a little embarrassed with all the situation. "Nice to meet you Colin!" She said still amused, "I'm Hui-Ying! We were just having a morning walk, you know, enjoying this beautiful place!" She answered joyfully, her dark eyes sparkling like the lake's surface. Alana also introduced herself and added to what Ying had said, they shared a look and giggled to each other, like if their minds were working together. It was amazing how close the two girls had become in so little time, they almost didn't had to say everything to understand each other.

"Who is Clair? You shouted her name when you came rushing out of the lake basically professing your love. Is she your girlfriend?" Alana asked curious to Colin. Ying admired her friend's boldness in asking such question like that, although she could admit that she also felt that curiosity. Was when she remembered what she had brought inside her satchel, "Oh! Do you guys want some hot choco?" She asked towards them. Then her eyes fell again on the shirtless boy, "You must be freezing! While you dress I can search for some twigs and dry leafs, so we can have a hot drink by the fire?" She suggested looking to both of them with a hopeful smile, "We have time, classes will start later...what do you guys say?" She said biting on her lower lip with trying to hide her excitement for the idea, she hoped they would agree with her, the idea of having some good hot choco with the comfort of a lit fire came to her mind that morning, and that's why she opted to bring it with her, to share it with her friend. Well...now they would have to share it with Colin too, but Ying didn't mind that, one more friend is always welcome to join!

Interacting with: @Alana Dibble | @Colin McCoire

The girls introduced themselves as Alana and Hui-Ying. They both seemed pretty cool and Colin couldn't help but laugh along with them over the --- er, situation --- that he'd just found himself in! But when Hui-Ying introduced herself, Colin made a gesture with his hands as if he had just figured out the most important questions life ever had to pose. "Wait! Hui-Ying? I know that kind of name!" He looked briefly at Alana, as if she might know the answer. "Wait, ye're not Ming's sister are you!?"

The girl before him did look familiar in a way. Hm. Ming wasn't one of Colin's close friends, but they were in the same house and year and naturally had a lot of classes together. Funny how he never even mentioned he had a sister!

They giggled again when Alana brought up Clair. Why were girls always giggling? Colin had often wondered that. It was a real mystery. It was like these two were telepathically linked or something. They were just talking to each other the whole time --- and giggling --- while Colin just stood there looking dumb all the while.

Colin blushed at the mention of Clair! He'd dreamt about her last night. Again! Colin stalked the woodlands around Hogwarts, on the other side of the lake. Though it was just after noon, deep mists rolled through the trees and the sky darkened as if a giant dragon wing passed overhead and blotted the Sun. An unnatural silence descended upon the woods and Colin stood alone. He could smell the monster before he could hear it or see it through the deep fog. Rank and sweet, like the death of a creature. Colin licked his lips; he knew this was no dead carcass.

The fog thickened as it approached. It was now a dark, pale black fog. C0lin drew his wand. He'd have to fight the monster. Again. He'd deprived it of its quarry before, and it would be angry. Colin's nostrils flared and he scented the air. The thing, shrouded in darkness, stood before him. The spell rose to his lips almost unbidden! He must attack quicker! Gain the advantage before the terror bore down on him!

"Saggita! Saggita! Sectum sempra!" His wand danced even as the monster charged! Colin's heart pounded! He had no idea if any of his spells penetrated the darkness; and then it was upon him! The monster collapsed! It's eyes dead; its dozens of antler tips bored into Colin's flesh; pinned him to the earth.

His eyes closed slowly and he saw a pale light, growing as it neared, tearing through the darkness. His eyes opened slowly. There was light surrounding him. The beast lay to the side, its ugliness revealed and healing hands touched his body. The face of the healer smiled. Clair was in the light.

Colin smiled. "Hot choco? Sure!" Hui-Ying said she'd gather some wood for a fire. Colin was a fairly dab hand with fire! Once he wrapped his kilt around his waist and got his shirt back on, though still unbuttoned, he got his wand from its sheath and poked it into the pile of wood.

"Incendio!" he said, watching as the sticks caught fire. The flames crackled merrily and Colin felt happy to have met a couple cool new friends. "You know what lassies? You can make hot choco without a fire too!" I scooped up some water from the lake in one of the mugs, then dunked the end of his wand into it. "Ye've got to concentrate and make the spell real strong." Colin's brows furrowed in concentration before he said: "Lumos!"

He looked into the mug expectantly. Nothing seems to have happened. He shrugged and tried it again: "LUMOS!" This time a glowing light poured out of the mug! "Oi!" Colin shouted as he yanked his wand and shook it! "Nox! NOX! Whoa. Gotta be careful with that one! You can set your own wand on fire! But look!" He showed them the mug full of steaming, boiling water!

Colin sighed. "I don't think Clair even knows how to do that one!"

@Fang Hui-Ying | @Alana Dibble || Mentions @Clair Fernandez

Alana stood quietly next to her ivory skinned tone friend. Alana's fiery red hair rested in a cascade of waves off her shoulders. Her sea-foam blue eyes focused on Ying then her gaze turned towards Colin. Alana remembered Ying mention her brother that was in Slytherin. Though Alana seemed a bit confused. The young girl recalled that the older boy had a pair of Ravenclaw trousers but seemed to wear Slytherin colors. Alana looked up at Colin with a curious look tilting her head to the left hand side.

"Are you not a Ravenclaw? I mean your knickers had the Ravenclaw emblem on them. Though your attire does seem Slytherin like though. I guess that would be how you would know Ying's brother? Right Ying? I recall you told me about him before?"

Alana turned her soft sea-foam teal blue eyes at Ying awaiting an answer, before turning her attention back to Colin. The young first year girl seemed confused for a minute though she shook her head a bit before looking back at her best friend. Alana grew a goofy grin helping Ying get some wood for a little fire though Alana was sure this broke some type of school rule.

Once Colin lit the fire Alana watched curiously as he used the incedio charm. The young fiery red haired girl smiled brightly ever so curiously. Alana felt overjoyed learning new things seeing new spells were always a joy for the young girl. Her sea-foam teal eyes watched Colin once again as he began to demonstrate how to use Lumos to make hot coco. Even though the older boy did almost set his wand on fire. Which in turn made Alana fall over laughing in a fit of laughter.

Alana had tears streaming from her eyes as she held her stomach from laughing extremely hard. Her red hair sprawled about around her as her laughter echoed around the Lake side. Even the wind started to breeze gently sounding like a very soft laughter coming from it. Alana tried to steady her laughter slightly though. Why catching a wand on fire made the girl hysterical nobody would really ever know sense Alana was one that was unpredictable for sure.