Dreaming of Squids PV Closed

Ruby wandered down to the Great Lake. She was down here a lot, as she loved being outside in general, but the lake was so beautiful. Water was nice to watch and be around. Just a single glance at it gently lapping against the land could be rather calming indeed. On a sunny day like this one, the lake sparkled a lot, and sometimes it could even seem blinding. Nevertheless, the sounds, sights, and smells of nature around here were very much appreciated by the young Slytherin.

She was standing near the lake, staring out at the glistening water, deep in thought. There was so much to think about and so much to learn. Maybe she should be in the Library, trying to gain some more information, but, no, it was quite nice out here. She took a deep breath and looked around her. Several students were near her, which they couldn't be blamed for – after all, it was a lovely day with good weather.

Ruby gave them a quick scan. She analyzed and observed almost everyone she came across, saving the information she gathered into a corner of her mind to pull out when/if she needed it. There were people from all houses and, apparently, various years. One of the students sitting alone seemed to be a first year and a Hufflepuff, one that looked lonely. A lonely, sad Hufflepuff? That was disappointing. What had caused this? She noted the girl's body language and facial expression. Yes, her yearmate was definitely lonely and seemed disappointed, yet somehow still excited, presumably about different things.

Hufflepuffs generally had a lot of friends. They were loved by many, cherished, and protected, although Ruby definitely knew that they were more than capable of protecting themselves and others. It seemed a little odd to see one that seemed so alone, so isolated, when many were often eagerly snapped up as friends, and were targets when someone was looking for a good listener, friend, companion, or partner.

Did this one just need some alone time? Maybe that was it. Maybe she was tired and needed a break. Even so, Ruby couldn't help but feel that something was wrong – something was off. The girl seemed quiet, with the potential to be happy and friendly, yet she was rather subdued. With a small sigh, Ruby convinced herself to walk over and talk to the other girl. The worst she'd get was an angry response and possibly the girl telling her to get lost/go away, which Ruby could easily take – that was nothing. It didn't seem like the girl knew too many spells either – the Slytherin really didn't feel like getting hexed right now, so she hoped that was the case – but she knew never to underestimate a possible opponent.

“Hello,” Ruby said as she approached. “Are you alright?” She sat down beside the Hufflepuff, gave her a small smile, and then added, “I hope you don't mind if I join you.”

Ruby knew that she could seem scary. The house of Slytherin had a generally negative reputation, and she herself wasn't particularly friendly. Her somewhat cold air (aura, presence, whatever) and the way her light blue gaze seemed to stare directly into people's souls and then calculate, analyze, and figure everything out, leaving with the information, had a tendency to freak people out a bit, especially if she said some of these observations aloud. Despite this, she knew how to act/lie, and even when she didn't feel a certain way, she could generally convincingly pretend to. The smile she had given the girl eased some of this, yet the sharp intelligence still showed in Ruby's eyes.

Reducio

It's not a problem, don't worry about it. This one of mine wasn't very good, sorry