The HideAway Closed

Hogwarts was more crowded over the past few days. With the welcoming of the visiting schools, the student population had grown but of course, the rooms and corridors within the castle of Hogwarts had not. Simon didn't mind it, although it did seem that there was less time now for some of his friendships as they were reacquainting themselves with the foreign visitors. He hadn't really gotten to know any students from the other schools yet so he went about his business as normal.

He found himself in the Library which was busy for that particular day. Again, more students, but also the rain outside that soaked the grounds caused everyone to stay indoors. Simon didn't mind the crowd but sometimes that meant his favorite places had been taken. He headed to the corner, away from the window, but saw that his favorite chair was open. One nearby though however that normally was vacant was occupied by a girl. "Been raining for awhile," he said, just trying to make conversation and let her know that he was there so he didn't startle her. "At this rate, we'll be welcoming in Herman and the merpeople from the Lake if it overflows." Okay, probably not THAT much rain. Simon smiled so she knew he was only kidding and that he didn't actually think that.

"This is my favorite place in the Library. Mind if I join you?" he motioned to the chair near her.

When Crystal heard the boy behind her, she was a bit startles at first as she thought she was all alone as she did not see anyone behind her apart from the librarian which definitely did not have that voice. Crystal felt a bit nervous as this boy was the first boy who ever spoken to her before in the libary . Crystal slowley looked up at the boy and said "Urm Hi, yep it sure has been raining for a while " Then wispered to the boy " I am currently hiding up in the libary to make sure that I'm away from the thunder as I have a mighty fear of thunder , please keep that a secret and yes you can sit with me "
Crystal stood up and pulled out a chair to sit next to the boy so the boy could sit down on the chair .
After the boy sat down ,Crystal then saw a lightening flash in the sky and started feeling really more scared . Crystal wisher she wasn't scared of thunder but unfortunately for her she was very very frightened of it indeed. She was not quite sure If it was the sudden suprise of it which scared her or the loud noise itself.
(Word count -213)

"We all have our secrets," he said and smiled softly. Some were deeper than others, but that was the truth. He was a faithful person who considered himself a good Christian and yet he still had secrets. It was all part of being human and not being perfect.

Simon glanced to the window and knew that it was thunder that followed lightning and he hoped that the flash they just saw was far enough away that it wouldn't scare her but he couldn't predict. He didn't go outside enough to really learn much about basic weather, let alone more complex meteorology. "I always found storms rather relaxing, myself." He was the opposite of her when it came to things like this.

Still, his statement of not being afraid wouldn't help her with her fears. But what could? Distractions. Conversation. Maybe he could help there. "We get lots of storms in London," but then again it seemed the entire area of Great Britian got a lot of rain. People carried umbrellas even when it was foretasted clear and sunny for the entire week! Locals knew better, or they knew they were most likely going to get wet at some point regardless and took that chance.

"I'm Simon," he said, leaning over toward her and holding out his hand for her to shake. "Simon Kincaid. Second Year Hufflepuff." If she would take his hand and give it a shake to make friends, she might realize his hands were slightly cold, but it would be a friendly handshake and he would give it with a friendly smile.

"Might I inquire as to what it is about storms you don't like?" Was that being too forward? He hoped not. He only wanted to help.

Knowing the fact that everyone had secrets and that Simon was going to make sure that Crystal's fear of thunder was going to stay a secret made Crystal feel a bit more relaxed around him.

When she heard Simon say he liked lightening and thunder , She felt a bit confused as in who can actually like thunder and lightening it was the most scariest thing to her apart from dogs .

Crystal then thought about the time when she went shopping with her parents and saw that it was raining so she understood why people had their umbrellas up but then she also rembered about the next time she went shopping and her being confused why people also had umberellas up even though it was sunny . "I've seen people have umbrellas up in all different types of weather even seen people use a umbrella when it was sunny once but my mum told me that there is such thing as a sun umbrella which I find weird as I thought a umbrella was only meant to be used in the bad weather like today's " Crystal then giggled to herself .

Crystal saw the boy had his hand out to shake which she then shook ,Whilst shaking his hand and wondering why his hand was so cold . She then told him " I'm Crystal but my friends call me Crys , I am in the first year of the Hufflepuff House team . I've only been at this school for almost 3 weeks so just getting used to it all at this school as I have never actually been to school before. Maybe we Hufflepuffs can stick together . I think the fear is to due with the loud sudden noise as I don't like loud noises or stuff I don't expect to happen"
(Word count-307)

Simon smiled when she mentioned she only thought of people using umbrellas in bad weather like this. To him, using an umbrella for the sun made more than perfect sense. "Nice to meet you, Crys. Glad to have another badger on board. Hogwarts can be...one of my favorite places in the world and at other times one of the most daunting places," he laughed a little.

Simon relaxed back in his chair. "I can see what you mean by not liking to be startled. I'm someone that always wants to know things. Highly inquisitive, as my aunt calls me. I've got this whole notebook," he paused to lean forward, open up the bag that he had brought with him, and pulled out a notebook and handed it over to her. "I've been writing anything and everything that comes to mind when it involves the wizarding world. That's what I spend some of my time here in the Library researching." Sometimes it was for class. Sometimes it was for pleasure. Sometimes it was studying up on vampires.

"Did you come from magic? A magical family, I mean?" She had mentioned not attending school before this but maybe she meant a wizarding school. Simon had learned that even those of magic usually didn't attend a primary school like he had back in London. They were often home taught or had some sort of tutor.

When Crystal heard Simon say about Hogwarts can be daunting ,She thought to herself well maybe if it gets to daunting for her she could always talk to Simon to cheer herself up a bit " It may get daunting ,It may not but if you ever feel it is daunting please find me and talk to me as I class you as a friend now".

Crystal really liked the notebook idea she thought to herself maybe she can get a couple of notebooks and have them in her bag just like her friend Simon does . She thought one notebook for studying , One notebook for writing her homeworks in before writing them for her proffessors to see and one notebooks for her drawings (Espically of her faviourite magical creature Unicorns and writing stories ) .

Crystal said to the boy "Yep I am from a magical family , I am half- blooded what about yourself ? My mother used to teach me at home , I really miss my family espically my mother we used to always pretty much do everything together " Whilst she started to speak about missing her mother she felt a bit emotional .
(Word count -200)

P.S your also amazing

"It can be hard being away," he said, feeling as if he could tell she was starting to feel a little sad. "Writing helps. My aunt writes back to me all the time. It's not quite the same as being there, but it's better than being apart. Just mind the owls at the left side of the Owlery when you walk in. They don't like taking letters too much and are pretty lazy. They get moody if you try and put them to work. I was bitten my first week," he smiled, remembering his shock from it.

"My mum, she went here. She was in Gryffindor," he said as he glanced up at the ceiling of the library and his eyes followed along some shelves in the distance. When he thought of his mother and being there at Hogwarts, he often wondered if she ever sat in that same chair, or stood in that same place. Did she read the same textbook? Did she have to research the same subject for an essay? "But she came from a muggle family. Her parents passed away just after graduating and her sister, my aunt, she isn't of magic. My mum didn't want her jealous so she didn't talk about it much and then she passed away herself when I was really little. I was raised by my Aunt Maggie, who is absolutely fantastic," he always felt the need to bring that up because he was lucky to have someone like Maggie Kincaid in his life. Some thought, oh...poor boy - no mother, no father, no grandparents, no siblings. So sad. But he was lucky to have someone as kid and supportive as his aunt.

"My aunt didn't even realize that it runs in families a lot. So...we was a little apprehensive to send me here. I miss my friends back in London but we keep in touch over the holiday breaks and through letters and this whole magical world is pretty amazing. I mean, dragons and goblins and unicorns, potions and spells and jinxes and dragons. Magical plants, vampires, and centaurs and dragons. Dragons." The dragons always amazed him. In fact, he might right now claim that someday he wanted to be a dragon tamer someday as an occupation, although that would not end up being his career.

"Tell me a bit about you, Crys. What kind of things do you like?" Maybe if he could help keep her mind off things like the storm currently and the homesickness, she could feel better.

"It is definitly hard being away from family and friends but luckily my best friend from home also goes to this school, He is also in the house team Hufflepuff which I find awesome " Whilst thinking of her best friend , this then made Crystal feel quite a bit better knowing she weren't alone as she had her best friend from home in the house team but also her new friend Simon.

"I am so sorry to hear about some of your family members dying , Luckily I never had to deal with anyone who I know dying ." Whilst saying this ,Crystal then offers a hug to Simon to hopefully make him not feel as sad about it.

Crystal decided that writing to her family would be great idea and that she would definitly be on the look out to get notebooks but she did not know where to get them from so she thought she would ask Simon. "Urm Simon, Where did you get your notebook from as I would love to get a couple of notebooks , One for my studying , One for homeworks , One to write letters in and one for my drawings "Thinking of herself drawing made her feel particularly happy so she went to get a peice of paper so she could draw.
Once Crystal picked up a blank peice of white paper and took her pencil out of her pencil case which looked like a unicorn and drawed the most beautiful unicorn you could ever see with a rainbow mane and showed Simon the drawing .

"I really enjoy being creative it really makes me feel happy and relaxed , I am found staying up till quite late into the night studying but also doing drawing and colouring . Another thing which relaxes me is reading , I really love this book espically " Crystal paused for a m0ment whilst reaching into her pink backpack to pick out her faviourite book which was called Goodnight Mister Tom and showed Simon the book. " I won't exact tell you what it is about incase if you ever want to read it . Maybe you can borrow it from me one day ." Crystal then paused again whilst she was putting the book back in her backpack . "Back at home , I used to enjoy listening to music as I connect to music really well but unforunatly your not allowed to listen to music whilst at this school which sucks to me . I also love playing video games at home but again your not allowed to play games here , My faviourite game is called Super Mario. I also love baking espically when I make strawberry cupcakes at home " Thinking about baking cupcakes made Crystal wonder if she would be allowed to bake cupcakes at the school . "Sorry I'm speaking so much . She then giggled to herself and felt a lot better as she was thinking and talking about her faviourite things .
(Word count -506)