The Winter Lake Closed

Katie was bundled up, walking to the lake to find one of her spots to sit and read for the afternoon. Old habits die hard, after all. Katie’s parents set the “one afternoon of reading outside a week” before shed hit six. Now it was indelible in her nature that she do it.

As she was walking by, she saw someone she knew, If only from the musical practice room. Katie smiled, a little, and in a rare fit of boldness ACTUALLY REAL LIFE WALKED OVER TO SOMEONE OMG!

when she got there, she stood next to rose, not having the slightest clue of what had previously been going through her friend’s head. She didn’t know how much it pertained to her house, or how she was one of rose’s only friends here. At least, KATIE considered them to be friends. Hell, Katie didn’t even have a problem with not having a lot of friends. She was the girl who didn’t make many, but trasured what she had. She probably wouldn’t understand a single one of Rose’s problems, honestly.

“ hey, rose.” She spoke quietly, not wanting to scare her, or make her mad, or something.

Kenni felt so strangely confined within the large castle. She had an insane lack of fresh air. She needed some air, so she walked outside. There were people everywhere, but her eyes and entire focus was on the lake. No where else caught her attention like that big mass of water. She watched an occasional tentacle poke out of the lake as the giant squid played with the water's surface. She had heard about the squid from her brother, so she wasn't surprised.

Once she got to the lake's beach, she walked along the edge, taking in the cool air into her lungs. She let the cold fill her being and continued to walk along, lost in thought.

She thought of home and the large lake that laid about a mile away from her house. Being in the Irish countryside, there was freedom to do magic without suspicious muggles. She recalled once that Blaise froze over the lakes surface in the middle of June because Kenni was talking about how much she missed going ice skating. She smiled gently at the memory and was drawn out of her thoughts as she saw two girls up ahead.

Another Ravenclaw and a Gryffindor. She was tempted to turn around and walk the other way, but she knew that her brother's would've pushed her forward and forced her to make a few friends

"I will not allow you to live out your years at Hogwarts alone. Go make friends." She could practically hear Jamison say.

"You aren't going to just sit behind a book. You're gonna need some people to talk to and to maybe help you with homework. Talk to them." Evryn's voice echoed in her head.

"Don't be a loner. Share your gifts with others." Blaise's unsaid words sounded in her ears.

"Don't be a pusillanimous." Stated Kai.

She sighed, ignoring the last thought, worked up her courage, and walked over to the girls before her. She put on a slight smile that she hoped looked kind, shoved her shoulders back, put her chin up, and made her entrance.

Her voice sounded with a confidence that didn't exist within her being. Her voice almost betrayed her with a sliver of doubt and insecurity, but it was almost unnoticeable. "Hello, all."

Rose had been looking at Katie, struggling for words when a new person approached them. She was in a weird zen state of solitude and totally wasn't ready for human communication. Another Ravenclaw, Rose thought sourly. Upon reaching them the girl had spoken, but the words went into and out of Rose's head.
"Oh yeah, hey guys. What are you doing out here? It's freezing and there's no activities planned." Rose asked, almost absent-mindedly. To be honest, Rose had come out here to mope and be alone, not to socialize with other students. She started fiddling with a small ice chunk that was next to her hand. She was starting to wish that she didn't sit down in the snow; her backside had become cold and wet, and if she stood up it would be very noticeable. She eyed her robe that was lying next to her in the snow. I'll have to dry that out, Rose thought, tiredly.
Rose eyed the icy lake, admiring it's beauty and serenity. She had a faint memory of ice skating as a child, but hadn't been on the ice since. Part of her wanted to go ice skating, and the other part was too tired to even think about it.
Rose looked at the two other girls and waited for their reply.

totally fine! can we set a limit that says no new ppl after this tho? i find after 3 ppl it gets messy...
suddenly, Katie was a different person. there was another girl approaching, a new one. Katie, who had been standing full height, hunched forward slightly, making herself smaller and hiding away within her cloak. she was always a nervous and shy wreck around new people, no matter that they were in her house or that they were smiling kindly. she was tongue tied and nervous, and it was quickly becoming a norm for her to find herself blushing red and unable to speak.

she found herself using her friend as a human sheild, which made her blush harder. should she just take her leave? Rose didn't seem to want to speak with her, if the way she'd looked at katie was any indication. Maybe katie had imagined their whole time in the practice room, playing duets.

that would be a real shame. Katie very much considered rose a friend. it would be a shame to lose a friend, especially considering katie's natural inability to make them in the first place. it wasnt exactly an easily replaceable resource.