Lakeside Relaxation Closed

Atlas had started the week by making a promise to herself: she would leave the castle at least once. The image of the breathtaking lake right outside, the first thing she saw after leaving the Hogwarts Express, was slowly fading from memory. When the opportunity finally came along Atlas ran up to her dorm, grabbed a book, and left the castle.

Now, she was walking near the Great Lake, admiring the beauty of the view and thinking about the unrealness of the place. Atlas wouldn't be surprised if any second now she woke up in her muggle home and realized this was all a dream. Of course, she had read about castles and magic but never had she imagined that it was all real. It would no doubt take a while for her to fully accept that Hogwarts wasn't going anywhere and that this wasn't some sick prank her imagination was pulling.

The blue of the lake reflected the clouds covering the sky with incredible accuracy. Atlas had never seen waters so clear, it was as though there was some mystical force protecting the waters from all that was filthy. The ground surrounding the lake was dirty with mud leading her boots to be covered in the thick brown substance. As she continued to walk, Atlas felt all the worry and stress that came with school leave her. She felt like running with her arms thrown wide open, like screaming at the top of her lungs, like taking deep breaths and smiling at the sun.

Even though she missed London, and thought it to be beautiful, Atlas never wanted to return to the city. She found the open fields and gusts of wind a lot more appealing than the crowded streets and the city smell. As if summoned by her thoughts a gust of wind ruffled her clothes, announcing its presence.

Atlas noticed that she was getting closer and closer to a figure laying down on a slope. She debated on what to do, not wanting to disturb the person but also wanting to make some new friends. She quietly went up the slope, simultaneously attempting to rub all the mud off her boots. Once she was a few feet away from the person she sat down and opened her book. Should I say hi? At this point, Atlas realized she would look extremely rude if the girl laying down opened her eyes and realized someone just sat down next to her without announcing themselves. She turned toward the girl "Hi, I'm Atlas" she smiled.

@Atlas Rey

@Atlas Rey, @Kage Suzuki

Marseilles. Dubai. Shanghai. Miami. Vegas.
These were just some of Vivian's favourite cities; she could list out at least half a dozen more at a pinch. In general, Vivian loved cities. Even the mank metropolises of Ireland were preferable to the countryside, where there was nothing to do, no-one to see and nowhere to be.
So you can imagine how out-of-place she felt at Hogwarts. It wasn't that she didn't like mountains or fields or lakes; they were OK, when viewed from a chalet in a ski-resort. They were rather less tolerable when you had to look out on them from inside a grim medieval fortress in Scotland; there came a point when she'd almost prefer to wander around the grounds and ignore her ever-worsening hay-fever than stay inside that ratchet castle for one more second.
That's how Vivian ended up approaching the lake. If she was being honest, the fresh air was good for her. She felt a little better than she had when she was inside, at any rate, even th0ugh she constantly wanted to sneeze.
Approaching the lake, she saw two girls whom she knew--well, sort-of--talking. They were about knee-deep in muck. Yeah, no thanks. She took a seat at a safe distance, languishing on a log with her feet dangling above the ground.
They didn't seem to have noticed her presence yet, which Vivian, attention-seeker that she was, just couldn't stand. She was about to announce her presence when she saw something move in the lake--a tentacle?
'Eek!' she shrieked, almost falling off the log. 'Was that a squid? I thought all that was, like, a joke! Eurgh.'

From the simple "Hey" the girl answered with, Atlas realized that she probably wanted to be left alone. The likelihood of this increased when she got up and started walking toward the lake. Atlas frowned, she understood wanting to be alone but at the same time really hoped for a new friend or at least some nice conversation. Turning back to the book opened in her lap Atlas tried to read, but couldn't, her brain wasn't comprehending the words on the page and Atlas kept on having to reread the same paragraph. She shook her head with an aggravated sigh and looked up.

It didn't seem like the girl was going to change her mind when it came to talking to Atlas. She was now skipping rocks on the lake and from the ease that her wrist moved with Atlas could tell this wasn't her first time doing this. Due to the silence between the two girls beginning to feel awkward Atlas decided to head somewhere else. She stood up from the ground, brushed, or at least attempted to brush, the dirt off of her leggings, and turned toward Hogwarts.

"Eek!" Atlas heard a shriek and quickly turned toward the sound. She hadn't noticed when the second girl had gotten here but after getting a good look at her Atlas recognized her as Vivi. They had met on the boats that brought all the first years to Hogwarts on the first day that year. "Was that a squid? I thought all that was, like, a joke! Eurgh." Atlas automatically looked toward the lake in search of the squid Vivi had mentioned but all she saw was some type of splash. Had she seen the infamous squid that resided in the lake? Internally scolding herself for not paying more attention to the lake Atlas turned back toward Vivi.

She was happy to see her here, although they didn't know each other too well, Atlas enjoyed their time together on the boat. She approached the girl and sat down on the log next to her. "Hey Vivi, how have you been?" Atlas spoke, balancing her book carefully on the log. "I remember that you got sorted into Gryffindor, how do you like it?" the book was successfully balanced and Atlas turned away from it and looked at Vivi praying the book wouldn't fall over. She hoped the other girl would come over and join them, not wanting her to feel left out and also desperately wanting to let her know that she loved her outfit.

Interacting with @Vivian seoigh@Atlas Rey@Kage Suzuki

Another day, another Hogwarts exploration for Aurora. It has been months since she arrived at Hogwarts, yet, she never visits the great lake except for that one time with fellow first-years on her first day. She thought today might be a good time to relax for a bit in the great lake. Maybe she could say hi to the giant squid or even make it as her pet.
Aurora walked towards the lake as she played with her hair. As she got closer, she saw a familiar girl with blonde hair near the lake with two other students. She recognised the blonde girl as Vivian from the train. Aurora knew the girl was the most extroverted person who ever existed, so she thought it might be okay for her to call the blonde girl’s name to be friendly. Maybe that’s how friendly people greet others.
“Vi- Vivian!”
Aurora whisper-shouted and waved at the girl. She hoped Vivian remembers her. It might be not very pleasant if she doesn’t.
“Do- do you remember me?” Aurora smiled awkwardly, hoping Vivian will say yes.
“Oh- and hi to Vivian’s friends, hehe-”
She gave the two other students a massive smile that looked a bit fake as it did not suit her serious expression.