Lakeside Afternoon Finished

Kyle sat in the great hall eating, one of his favorite pass times, as the start to his day. As had become a habit for him Kyle left his robe behind, had his shirt half untucked and his tie hanging loosely. When it was warmer, like today, he’d roll his sleeves up as well to really complete his look. What look was that you may ask? The ‘I don’t care how I look’ look. One he worked very hard to maintain...ironically.

Kyal stood up and streatched before heading out of the great all and out of the castle entirely. What was he going to do today? At some point he needed to track down that Kay girl again, see if she had gotten up to any mischief without him. But for now he was going to head out to the lake. He loves the smell of the water and it was a good place for him to think and sort things out.

He picked up the pace and jogged towards the lake but stopped suddenly and dropped to his stomach. There was someone there. Reading? Or writing in a book or something he wasn’t sure. Then, he had an idea. An awful idea

Kyle had a wonderful, awful idea

He rose slowly and picked up a rock out of the dirt and took note of the angle and how far away he was from the other student. He reached back and chucked the Little Rock, aiming to hit the book in their hands and give them a scare. It was sure to be a riot!

Squids had six tentacles, not eight, like octopi. Ardis was deep in thought about how to position said tentacles in a way that looked natural, but not like the giant squid was reaching out to eat someone.

Something, rather.

That was when the rock came flying out of no where. It certainly knocked her journal right out of her grasp, as it hit the top of her hand and caused the book to go flying. The leatherbound journal landed a couple feet away from her in the sand, unscathed, it seemed, by the Gryffindor's actions.

Ardis, however, let out a pained cry. She turned in the direction the rock had come from to see just who had done such a thing. There was a boy not too far from her, looking quite pleased with himself, or so she assumed.

"Why did you do that?" she yelped, scrambling to her feet. "Throwing rocks at other's isn't a kind thing to do!" Ardis clutched her hand to her chest. "Surely you know that."

She took a step back, hoping to grab her journal and leave. She didn't want it in his hands. He might throw it in the lake! Are there bullies in the wizarding world?
Ardis had never been overtly bullied. Was this a bully? Or had he mistaken her for someone who enjoyed having rocks thrown at them?

He couldn’t help but let out a triumphant laugh as the rock hit at the book went flying. The yelp was about as funny as the sight of the book flapping through the air and he wore a smug smirk as he tossed another rock up and down in his right hand with his left hand resting loosely in his pocket.

Hold on a sec...what did she say? Didn’t he know throwing rocks wasn’t nice? She couldn’t be serious. He chuckles and shook his head a few times ”Not sure what land of rainbows and hugs you hufflepuffs frolic in. But the world ain’t nice sister. Can be fun though”

He chucked the second rock to hit the water hoping to splash some onto her or the book she was seemingly protective of. Must be important. Diary maybe? Notes? Who knows. He slides his right hand into a pocket to mirror his left hand as he takes a few steps towards the girl, making sure to keep her back to the lake.

Kyle nods towards the book ”now I’m really curious what’s so special bout that book...so you can either lemme see it. Or you can stop me from taking it. And honestly, both routes sound really fun. So what do ya say?” he moves closer again, his cocky grin taking on a more sinister feel

Kyle was successful in two things: aiming his rock just right so it would get water on her and the journal, and keeping her back to the lake. Ardis let out another yelp at the feeling of water hitting the back of her shirt and head, then retreated a couple of steps, towards the shoreline.

She had been sitting on her cloak so as not to dirty her skirt. Now it lay on the sand. Luckily, it didn't seem to be windy out, so at least it wouldn't be spirited away. That was a relief.

What had he said about Hufflepuffs? Ardis glanced at him, brows furrowed with worry. Had she been braver, she would have come up with some retort for that remark. But... she wasn't. And his smile was frightening. I heard Slytherins were supposed to be the scary ones. Why is a Gryffindor smiling like that?

"You want to see my book?" she clarified. "It's a journal. Of plants, is all. I-if you had just asked, I would have shown it to you." Ardis rubbed the back of her hand, where the first rock had struck. It would bruise, for certain, but luckily nothing had been broken.

He shrugs and idly takes a few steps towards her as she retreats back a few steps to keep the distance between them the same. He runs a hand through his hair to push some of the mess out of his eyes as he kept his gaze on the hufflepuff. Normally it wasn't fun unless they pushed back and it became a scrap. But something about her behaviour was kind of exciting, he imagined its what wolves felt when they were stalking a rabbit or something. A thought for another time.

"You see, anyone can ask for things. But that just isn't fun, ya? Taking things you want is way more satisfying. Plus, gives you the chance to defend whats yours. Everyone wins" he takes his hands out of his pockets and grabs his wand from his back pocket "Well unless you aren't able to defend whats yours...then I guess thats a lose for you. so what will it be gum drop. Gonna let me see the book? or do you wanna keep it from me"

he rolls his shoulders and plants his feet to make himself stable as he tightens his grip on his wand. Then he extends his left hand outwards palm up "Left hand or right?"

Ardis took another step back at the sight of his wand. He wanted to duel? Was that allowed? She looked to her robe--that was where her wand was stashed. Then she looked to her feet. She was not good with spells. Not a single one was even coming to mind right now!

She could run? As far and as fast as she her legs would carry her. But... he was taller than her. His legs were longer. Chances were he'd have no trouble catching up. Who knew what would happen then. She could threaten to tell a professor? Did students usually do that? But that might make things worse. He'd call her a tattle tale! Or a snitch! Right?

Ardis frowned, then shifted nervously. "Erm... right." Why did he want to see her journal so badly anyway? Nothing private was written there. She gulped. "I would prefer not to... to duel. It seems a bit unnecessary. I-it's just a book, you see." Her hands moved down to the edge of her jumper and clutched the fabric tightly. Nervously. "S-so perhaps... we might just not fight? I-if one of us gets hurt, the hospital wing is far away, and.. and if either of us falls into the lake, we might get eaten by the giant squid!"
There. Maybe reasoning with him would help the situation?

His eyes went wide with excitement and wonder at her words. Did she say Giant squid? Oh she absolutely did! Was that real? how giant was Giant? Did it actually eat people? AWESOME. His grin reaches his eyes and he looks past the girl to the lake and back to her once again. "Maybe my hair is blocking my ears...im not sure I heard you right. There is a giant squid in there? You know..." he sniffed the air loudly and went on to shake his head and make 'Tsk tsk' noises. "Living by the kitchens has a down side Hufflesnuff. You can almost still smell breakfast on you. I wonder if the Squid likes eggs and bacon?"

he moved closer to her, trying to make sure he kept placing himself so he was exactly opposite of the lake from her. "tell ya what. I dont what your journal anymore. this is way more exciting. Lets have a quick jump into the lake. maybe splash around some. I bet that would really get the squids attention. Probably tired of boring old fish. Though you aint much bigger are ya?" he chuckles and quickly approaches the girl, trying to grab hold of her shoulder and lean her back towards the water, but making sure not to drop her(if had managed to grab her at all)

"Now you are going to want to take a deep breath, yeah? How else will we know what Squid face looks like unless your head goes under?"

Ardis' eyes widened in surprise. Wait, he wants to--. Suddenly he had a hold of her shoulder and they were even closer to the lake. What was that he called her? Hufflesnuff? That was rude.

"W-wait a moment! This isn't—y-you can't just dunk someone into the lake!" she yelped. Ardis dug her heels into the sand as best she could. "You can't just—when you know there's something bad in there!" Gryffindors were supposed to be brave, weren't they? Heroic? This wasn't heroic at all! She'd heard Slytherins were supposed to be the ones to do whatever it took to get what they wanted. Surely he belonged in that house instead.

She squirmed in his grasp, but truth be told, she wasn't as strong as him. Ardis gripped his shirt tightly in her fist. Maybe she could pull him in with her. The closer they got to the water, the further away her wand was, and the only option she felt she had was to hold onto him and never let go. She attempted her best glare and directed it at him.
"Let me go. N-now! I... I'll tell! The first professor I see, I'll tell them a horrible boy threw me into the lake!" She didn't even know his name. But surely, a professor would know of him. And help. She didn't care that she'd be a snitch for it. She did not want to get eaten.

Kyle couldnt help but laugh as the girl squirmed and struggle and just whined on and on and on. She couldnt REALLY think there was some giant man eating squid in the lake? How soft in the head WERE these Hufflepuff kids. Friendly and loyal, big whoop. whats that matter when you are weak and dumb? And now whats this? she wanted to rat him out to a professor huh? tell them all about the big bad Gryffindor that pushed her into the lake? More power to her. He didn't care, let her tell everyone. He might even help out and tell some people as well, then they will know not to mess with him. And then...she said the three magical words every bully loves to hear and twist into a different meaning.

Let me go

tsk tsk tsk. She will have to pick her words a tad more cautiously next time. he chuckles and shakes his head. "A poor choice of words" and with that he would push out with his hand that held her then release his grip as he attempted to push her backwards into the water. once he let go of her he turned around and offered a sarcastic wave over his head "When the Squid comes, Tell em DeRook sent ya." Kyle then laughs to himself as he started to walk away from the lake. his job here was done.