Of Slumber parties and Secrets PV Closed

Alex shuffled through the forest, a sleeping bag clutched in the crook of one hand, while the other was shoved in a pocket.

The plan was to meet with two other girls, one was a First Year in Slytherin, who she had already met and liked immensely, but the other one was a Second Year. The girl was is Gryffindor, like her, but the very thought of having a slumber party with a Second Year was enough to make her nervous. Her name was Aurelia, a tall girl with brown hair and stunning blue eyes. Alex had seen her before in the Gryffindor common room, but always kept her distance.

The forest was filled with tall, straight trees, Alex, who had already picked up her bag, slowly walked through, trying to spot one of the girls.

Alex was an average girl, one that doesn't stand out a lot. She was average height, a little thinner than most, average brown hair, average brown eyes, pale skin that was sometimes tanned in summer, and nothing else. When you got to know her, she was strong, competitive and generally a good sport, but right now, she looked like any other 11-year-old.

After a minute or two of searching, she found Aurelia, already in her sleeping bag, next to a tree. She nervously walked over, shuffling her feet.
"Hello - you're Aurelia, right? I'm Alex. Alexandra is my full name, but everyone calls me Alex"

Interactions: @Alan Vanes & @Arya St-Onge | open to interaction.

An adventure. There were too many feelings in her gut at the words adventure for Eris to know how she truly felt. On one hand, the last adventure she had been on had lead to chaos and a genuine fear for her friend’s survival. If there was one thing Eris refused to deal with, it was her friends being hurt. Among other things, as there were a lot of things the angry child refused to deal with. Anger issues oft did that to a person, and Eris was filled to the brim with anger issues.

Yet, adventures! Every hero in her favorite books, daydreams, and stories went on adventures. Even if they were scared, they went on adventures. Eris scratched at her head, stepping out of her dorm room. Looking around the common room and not seeing any of her friends, Eris’ eye caught on one of her favorite professors chewing out two children.

Watching professor Griffith talk to the two children, Eris felt a bit sad that he wasn’t coming on the adventure, as she assumed he would be busy chiding the first years. Halting her steps and the flow of traffic out the door, the small girl rushed for a pen and parchment, unable to imagine having to stay behind from the adventure. Even though he was a professor, Professor Griffith often acted like more of a friend to Eris than the rest of the castle. In fact, he reminded her of what her father had been like when he wasn’t fearful and angry. Turning to study the weathered, angry man, Eris’ hand flew across the paper. The telltale signs of her scribbled handwriting could be heard, as scratching and mumbling erupted from the corner of the room, where Eris wrote atone of the desks. When done, the little red head took off at a run over to the trouble-makers and the professors and thrust a note into the Care of Magical Creatures Professor’s hands, before taking off again.

There was a bizarre sense of relief coursing through her small body, as Eris exited the common room. Topping down the stairs, taking each stair at a time, her head held high, Eris beamed from ear to ear. Nothing could go wrong at this adventure. Sure, the adventures of the past had been horrible and led to fractures in her friend-group, as well as the terrifying pungent scent of blood seemingly being embedded in her mind whenever she thought about transfiguring things into birds, but that was the cost of adventure. Life went on and heroes suffered, but they still went on more adventures, which Eris would do too. Shuddering suddenly at the remember of small birds being crushed under heels, Eris’ footing on the next step became a bit wobbly, but she still traversed down the steps. She felt safer than usual, and couldn’t help but feel excited for the prospect of a new adventure. This year already, she had met with more than enough of the professors of Hogwarts, to yell and complain to them. Maybe they were finally taking her words into account and making a safe adventure.

Loud and vibrant, it was impossible to miss the small girl bundled up in a coat that seemed larger than herself. The coat had once been green but Eris had bullied another student into charming it to be red. Her idea of bullying was quite vague, as Eris had just prodded a fifth year to change the color until he got annoyed with her presence and granted the wish. Warm, extremely fuzzy, pant bottoms with enchanted lions that leaped and purred from their spots on the pants were underneath the coat, but could hardly be seen through the large jacket and the black boots that covered up most of Eris’ body. Balancing like a child, she leapt down another stair and pretended to be a dragon in flight for the few seconds her body was aloft.

Back down on the ground, Eris landed with a thud and quickly took off after the group she had left behind. The grounds looked different at night, a fact that Eris knew all too well from her adventures on the grounds in the past. Hurrying past the lake and the trees, Eris took a moment to stare at the charred remains of the forest, which even though cleaned up, was still visible. This adventure would not be like the camp-out. There was no insane Professor Lear to go and muck things up, and even though Eris had heard little about the adventure, she was quick to admit that Professor Lear was one of the professors she trusted the least.

Making it to the starry glen, Eris couldn’t help but stare around in awe. She wasn’t the type of person to stop and appreciate nature in its base form, but even she had to admit that the area looked lovely. Unable to help herself, the child spun around, taking in the sights around her. Letting out a small sound of delight, Eris beelined over to one of the gryffindor sleeping bags,claiming one of the sleeping bags as her own. Stopping only to pat the stuffed lion’s head, Eris started to pull off her coat. Sheepishly, as if embarrassed by her child-like tendencies, Eris pulled off her jacket and set it on the pillow, sitting the lion on top of the jacket with another pet.

The tank top under her jacket allowed for the chill to penetrate her skin. Eris loved the cold. She loved the feeling of wind on her exposed skin, as it reminded her of flying and the beauty of being in the skies. Oh, how she missed flying. The Quidditch team try-outs would hopefully be soon, and then she could fly again. Until then, Eris had been sneaking trips to the Quidditch Training Stadium, attempting to teach herself how to be a seeker. She had been a chaser last year, but after finding out that seekers were often the small players, she had decided that she was small and could do it. And Harry Potter had been a seeker. That was also one of the reasons for her switching of positions, but Eris was loathe to admit her celebrity crush to the students of Hogwarts. He was a married man, and was probably gross and yucky!

Setting on her sleeping bag, Eris noticed two other second years and waved them over. Ayra and Alan, right? “Arya! Alan!” She had disliked Alan once, but the need for friends was more important than anything else. “Over here!” Eris waved her arms over her head, waving frantically to the two and praying they would want to sit by her.

[quote]

The slight weight on her shoulders were relived when Aurelia heaved her bag of them. It wasn’t too heavy as there weren’t much in them but a blanket for a bit more warmth, a pillow, water bottle and an extra set of clothes.

Aurelia hadn’t noticed the stuffed lion until it rolled out when she was unpacking. Professor Sorrel wasn’t too bad (not that she ever was) after all having tucked a toy under each of the Gryffindors’ sleeping bag. Even though, twelve was considered a bit to big for stuffed animals like these, Aurelia still appreciated the effort the Gryffindor Head of House had made.

As the Brunette was unpacking, there was the noticeable crunching of dried twigs behind her which caused her to turn her head to see what or who it was. There stood another Gryffindor first year and for some reason seemed nervous as she approached Aurelia.

Aurelia was sure that she had seen the girl in the common room once or twice but it was unlikely that she took a moment to stop and have a small conversation of her usual packed schedule. The girl introduced herself as Alex and she clearly knew her name. “Yes, Aurelia Bezuidenhout,” the girl added on her last name. Aurelia didn’t mind the girl invading her space, after all, it was nice to have some company for a sleepover and passive it was with Alex at least for now.

“I suggest you drag a sleeping bag over, the good ones would be taken soon. It awful sleeping in the cold, Alexandra.” Aurelia, as usual, chose to use the girl’s full name as to her, it was disrespectful not to use the name one’s parent had given to them.

     The tempestuous outcry of another event that dealt with being outside roared like the pride of a Gryffindor. If anyone ever asked his preference for a trip, it be the unyielding environment of the wilderness. Bellamy dignified the aspect of jaunting out into the forest or at least anything close to it. Spending his time anywhere outside was a passion for Bellamy. The amount of experience, he accumulated from camping with his father over the numerous excursions they partook into the rich towering depths greenery was weirdly thrilling to the boy. To glorify the feeling of being outside would be excessive to most individuals; thankfully he reframed from expressing those feelings. Having to wait in the common room was like a coffin for the restive snake. He wished to climb out of this tomb that this house made him dwell in and smell the brisk air once more. When it was time, he followed behind the other Slytherins that decided to come on the outing. Subtly critiquing other students gear, he noticed how most were casual with choices they made for the trip. The boy felt out of place since he took a different approach to packing for a trip.

    Bellamy in his manner of preparation for the outdoors was decisive. He instinctively pre-planned ahead of time, sending an owl to his mother of the things he needed for the little journey, he was eager of waiting for. His choice of baggage was even selective, a canvas pocketed duffel backpack was a substantial fit for his size. The 'slumber party' apparently already supplied the basic bedding for the students to sleep in. So Bellamy didn't have to ask his mother to get that for him, he would've preferred to use his own type of sleeping bag, however, his insouciant expression towards this matter was evidently coherent to the eyes. The boy made sure most of his clothes were layered enough for the weather outside of the castle, noting to himself that it was November, presumably getting chilly around this month. Altogether, each clothing he brought was in a pair of twos. He made sure all but his favorite hoodie was layered, that being said his utility bomber was at most two layers thick. The trousers he decided to bring were tapered joggers that had the resemblance of cargo pants. They were nice and cozy for his legs, making the journey to the campsite relaxing. His footwear choice was boots that had deep tread within them. In return giving the shoes the ability to cling to the terrain, they roamed upon. Coming to the end of his list the socks and hat were a no-brainer,  thick long socks, and an earthy colored beanie that's it, nothing more, nothing less.

     Reaching the destination, the notion of recalling that he was a Prefect for Slytherin was engrossed by his thoughts of sleeping under the black night. Observing the spot that Gryffindor's Head of House chose, the area murmured the interpretation of charming. For the measures that each HoH took to make the campsite more appealing was unusual to him. The youthful furnishings was inviting but somehow demeaning to the bewildered child. The picturesque setting was unconventional as well as unrealistic for an outing like this. They were going to sleep in the woods for Merlin's sake. There wasn't even a bonfire for them to sit close by. This scene disturbed Bellamy's concept of sleeping under the luminous stars.  Already disgruntled of being here, he snatches up one of an available sleeping bags. Dawdling with his steps, Bellamy took the furthest spot from the center of the site, fixing himself in a suitable position for the night. Bellamy unfastened his bag to pull out a small bag of chips that his mother sent to him. He preferred the chips over the quaint deserts the HoH's brought.

It didn't really annoy Alex that the girl had called her Alexandra. Her father insisted on calling her it too. Though, in saying that, once she had made her maternal grandmother's head turn a deep shade of purple because the lady had the guts to call her that. She can still remember the shrivelled lady grabbing a piece of her hair with a wrinkly hand and holding it up for inspection in the light.
"Never liked brown hair. It has a particular vulgar feeling to it, don't you think?" she muttered. "The name, well that is even worse. Alexandra. Sounds like a pig gone wild." And that was when her head started to change.

But she still didn't really mind if this girl did. Aurelia sounded friendly when she spoke to Alex, and that was lucky, because there was no way that Alex would be able to survive a night with a tall, haughty Second Year girl next to her.

"Thanks," she said, and placed her sleeping bag on the ground, next to Aurelia's. Now that the girl wasn't big and scary, Alex felt obliged to ask her some questions.
"Is Second Year better than First Year at Hogwarts? Do you know what OWL subjects you're going to do? Have you met the Headmaster?"

[font=Baskerville Old Face]This place was indeed, perfect for them to settle down. They had a great view and were close to the Slytherin sleeping bags. She did not really have any friends from that houses, and to be honest, her only interactions had been De Wynter and Destrian. In that sense, she could not say she had the greatest opinion of them. Therefore, it was clear to her that Alan was excited to be there and to exchange conversation with his friends, which included some individuals from the green and silver house. [/font]

[font=Baskerville Old Face]Somehow, the weather was calmer here. It was probably due to the lack of wind as the numerous trees were blocking it blow. She smiled at that thought, if she was lucky enough, she would avoid catching a monstrous cold. Extending her arms in order to properly sit down on her sleeping bag, Arya finally saw the small stuffed animal and smiled fondly. She remembered how her father used to bring a lot of different ones home for her sister and her after the months he was spending away for his work at the Ministry. While she hugged the animal to her chest, she hummed softly to catch Alan Vanes attention. Somehow she had managed to forget his presence. ''Yes, this place is perfect, Alan!'' However, something in her peripheral vision had made her turn around to see a girl waving at them. She was a Gryffindor and was actually sitting close to them. Fawley... Eris Fawley wasn't it? If she remembered so, she had been in the Quidditch team last year! [/font]

[font=Baskerville Old Face]Arya had got up, a smile on her face while walking to the girl, even if she did not necessarily want new friends, she would at least see how this would go. She wasn't here to stay away from every human being, she was here to open up a little more with her housemate. At least, she wanted to believe it. Once she was close enough, she stopped walking and took a small breath. ''Hello, hm... Eris wasn't it? I'm Arya!'' Once the small presentations were done, she sat at her side. She wouldn't be so rude to leave already and to return to her lonely sleeping bag wouldn't she? Actually, she was quite interested in that girl, perhaps this sleepover activity would allow her to get to know her more. ''You were in the Quidditch's team last year, right? I think I saw you there once or twice. I might try to get into the team this year! Flying around is kind of my forte so it would be great to have the opportunity to practice more. H-m, sorry, I am rambling a little.[/font][font=Baskerville Old Face]'' She smiled to her while passing her hand in her short black hair. It was a habit of her to get excited when she spoke about something that truly interested her. Somehow, she tends to get lost into it too. It reminds her. She looked around, where was Alan? [/font]

Interaction with Arya, Eris and Daniel

The young Gryffindor, who indeed was quite excited for this adventure, would place the essentials on the sleeping bag. The plushie was a nice addition and probably a great friend for his own plush animal that he couldn't help but bring along to this adventurous night. The animal was now more important than ever before as it reminded him of his father, who gave it to him almost one year ago.

He then would sit up when he heard a vaguely familiar voice shout his name. From where did he know the voice, he was wondering as memories began to take over. Most were hazy, blurred by the influence of the potion that had messed with his mind nearly costing him some people and his own sanity. He now knew what it was that he felt that day and that those feelings were not real. The tingles and everything had been fake and his mother had explained to him that he had not to worry about those memories as they would fade away.

But that girl, she had been there and witnessed him in that weird, hazy moment that he would love to leave behind those memories and forget about those fake feelings all together. Still this girl was one of the people somehow affected the most by his actions, as well as another Gryffindor boy, who he had shared a dormitory with during the last year of school, he was an okay guy.

The brunette boy would raise his head, looking through the small crowd of students until his gaze met the figure of a familiar ginger head. Apparently Arya was already on her way over to the other girl. He would follow on later, but he did not want the possible friend from the green and silver house alone.

”Wanna tag along? My name is Alan..” he offered to the blond guy, with a hopeful voice, as he slowly stood up. He offered the other boy a toothy smile, Alan was just too excited for this.

Interaction | 
@Elijah Huang 

Currently Closed To Interactions

Anastasia had been delighted when she'd heard about the House adventure and had been one of the first to sign up. However, she hadn't fully realized that it would be outside, which was a bit of a damper for her. Anastasia didn't exactly dislike the outdoors, she just strongly preferred to be indoors anytime she was given a choice. She wasn't about to let that ruin a fun time though. At least, she hoped it would be fun, seeing as she could think of at least three people who were probably going to be at the sleepover that she was going to avoid if at all possible. She was rather irritated at the fact she had managed to make so many enemies in her first three months at school. At this rate, she was going to start an all-out war by fourth year. She had resolved to be a bit more polite when she met people, which she absolutely was capable of doing, but it just hadn't seemed to happen so far. Still, it was a new day, and there had to be a fair amount of people that she didn't loathe yet, right?

She arrived at the campground fairly early, but there were already quite a few people there, both people that she didn't mind seeing and others she would rather punch in the face than speak to. The young prefect made her way to a red and gold sleeping bag that was fairly near to the row of green and silver ones. She didn't have a thing against Slytherin since she'd gone the first eleven and a half years of her life planning on being in that house herself. Despite the fact that the Sorting Hat had thought otherwise and Anastasia was perfectly happy in Gryffindor, she still was fairly fond of Slytherin. Probably had something to do with the fact that her family had been Slytherins for practically forever and generations of loyalty didn't just disappear in a matter of months. 

She set her bag down atop the bag she had selected and glanced around. She smirked a little when she saw her bag was a bit plumper than some of the other students. Some might say she overpacked, considering she was a matter of meters away from her dorm and anyway, it was one night, but Anastasia was not one to do things halfway. She had brought just about everything but her bed. And she had in fact considered trying to bring her bed out. She'd decided against it since it could have gotten dirty and was also probably enchanted to stay in her room. She'd also considered asking her parents to send her a bed but decided that was just a bit impractical since it would take at least three owls to carry a bed. 

Snapping out of her thoughts about beds and owls and practicality, she noticed a Slytherin boy nearby. She didn't recognize him, so she figured that was a decent start. Unless of course, he'd heard some of the ridiculous rumors that another first-year Gryffindor had started, but she highly doubted most Slytherins heard or cared about Gryffindor politics. 

Outfit, Hair

Interactions: Rainer Green and Open!

November still didn't really know why he was here.

He kept trying to remind himself that other people meant trouble, that things were best when he stayed quiet and unseen. That even the allure of the forbidden forest, which called to him each night in his dreams, wasn't worth the risk. But here he was, surrounded by happy students in their winter woolens, sticking out like the usual sore thumb. (He had just barely managed to scrounge up a ratty scarf and hole-filled, oversized sweater in his favourite jet black to protect him from the cold.)

Trying to keep his head down, his dark eyes scoured the ground for plants that he might have a chance at digging up and taking home on the long walk to the camp, sighing as he reached the tents empty-handed. Well, maybe there would be something he didn't spot on the return trip...

The campground glittered with tiny fairy lanterns as they arrived, at once both dazzling and cozy as home. Cupcakes glistened, tempting softly, toys happily awaited their owners, and more and more, November felt like he didn't belong. Such nice things as this were never for boys like him... Surely the other shoe would drop soon, and he'd be in trouble for trying to partake, yes?

Just as he was starting to consider bolting back into the relative safety of the dark, cool forest, something flicked into his vision that froze him to the spot.

One tiny head, wreathed in soft brown curls.

Suddenly all his doubt and fears rushed out of him, a smile slowly breaking across his face like the dawn. Green. Green was here. After so many nights spent far from one another, held forever apart with brands of green and silver, red and gold, here he was again, and November could no longer stop himself.

Barrelling towards the smaller boy at top speed, he snatched him up in his arms as if he were the boogeyman himself, laughing, twirling, gripping him tight enough to never let go again.

Interactions→ @Anastasia Beckett
Closed to interactions for the time being

What, by definition, was a sleepover? For Elijah, he didn't exactly know- he had been to a grand total of two sleepovers in his entire lifetime, and both of them had been categorized as slumber parties, what with all of the people there. The first had been a slumber party one of the boys on his football had thrown after a particularly successful season ending with them winning their sectional tournament, and they had hardly slept at all- quite the contrary, in fact. Most of the boys had stayed up until the wee hours of the morning, laughing like hyenas and hollering like monkeys. The second had been for a friend's birthday- no, not a friend. A human that happened to be a part of the group of football players he chose to associate himself with. He had invited all of the "cool" boys on the football team to his house for his birthday, and Elijah had been invited. Once again, there wasn't much actual sleeping going on at that party.

And yet, there seemed to be a vast difference between a sleepover and "sleeping over" at someone's house. When one slept over at another's home, there usually was actual sleeping happening, whereas no one wanted to sleep at the sleepover. Why on earth were the two terms so similar, then? What sort of numbskull thought that it would be wise to dub such polar opposites such synonymous names? He shook a finger at whoever had a hand in naming thing in the English language, because none of it made sense. Ever.

But then, of course, that begged the question- what type of sleepover would this one at Hogwarts be? With Professors Wright and Jensen as their supervisors, he was dubious that the students would be able to get away with much, the two heads two of the most notoriously strict professors at Hogwarts, both armed with no-nonsense attitudes that suggested no frills nor fancies. As he made his way into the clearing that the professors had set up, he also noticed with a wry smile that neither of them seemed to have much experience in dealing with children- Professor Wright seemed to have gotten it into her mind that children their age appreciated stuffed animals, while Professor Jensen seemed to have provided them with provisions to prank their fellow students. Certainly, some of the children would appreciate the tokens- but Elijah was no such child.

No. He was a child on a mission. A mission that no child should have ever felt the burden of, especially at their age... and yet, here he was, on a mission to try and become invisible amongst his peers. If he stayed behind, he was painfully aware that he would've been ostracized as "that boring dude" or "the lame one". If he came to this sleepover, as most of the students in their house had done, he would blend in better, and that had always been his goal.

He practically pranced across the clearing, a wide and wondrous smile upon his shining face. If one were to look at him, they would see an ordinary child, pleased at the opportunity to get out of the castle for a little while to socialize with his... his friends... What friends? If one continued to watch, they would see the boy pause as he approached the Slytherin half of the clearing, seemingly daunted by the vast sea of emerald, his hand clutched tightly on the strap of his bag rest diagonally across his body, before he would turn and head closer towards the Gryffindor sleeping bags.

Choosing a sleeping bag closer to the edge, by the Gryffindor sleeping bags, he tentatively set his bag down on the ground next to the bag, his movements jerking and halting. Drawing his arms closer to his chest, he folded them over one another, although he was not in the least bit cold. He hated the clothes that he was wearing under his school robes, but he had to admit, they were pretty good at keeping out the cold. Glancing around the clearing, he managed to make eye contact with a Gryffindor girl who seemed fairly familiar... oh, right, she was a prefect. After it was clear that she wasn't going to look away anytime soon, Elijah tried for a smile, the corners of his lips lifting up just slightly.

Elijah's clothes under his robes (ignore the whole part about robes if they're not required):

Reducio