Forgotten Books & Spiders Finished

After having been drug behind at a run by Elsi, Dakota takes a pause once they stop to take a breath. Smiling a bit hearing Elsi saying “thank Merlin”, Dakota stood straight up yet again and watched him, not paying much attention to Kitty as she follows Elsi in. Laughing as she watched Elsi clasp the book shut she speaks yet again ”I can’t say what happened would’ve been my first time either forgetting things either,” it was amusing, Dakota had forgotten plenty of things in public areas in the muggle world and had to go running back.

Smiling at him she takes in a light breath “of course, it’s not like I would’ve had anything better to do,” leaning against the wall she sealed her lips again. Dakota knew that even had she needed to do something, she most likely would’ve still tagged along. Still watching, she watched as he snatched up pages, books and quills before stacking them.

Nodding lightly as he said he could get Kitty in a moment Dakota didn’t expect for the stack to come crashing down. At the noise is made she flinched back, she didn’t enjoy loud noises and this was far too loud for her own taste. Laughing softly as she watched Elsi flop down Dakota steps forward and begins to try and collect the books again.

Snorting as Kitty climbed onto Elsi, she grinned ”oh don’t be so harsh on her~” continuing to clean up the area. When Kitty jumped into Elsi’s hood Dakota let out a soft giggle, watching as the spider takes the yarn before crawling back over to her and seeming to wave up at her. Leaning down, Dakota held her hand out for Kitty to crawl onto it “how dare she betray you,” having a joking tone as she holds a book in her other arm she blinks over at Elsi.

@Elsian Cox

He raised a brow at her, surprised when she began to tidy up some of his books. He wasn’t going to complain about it, but it was still a little odd having her basically clean his mess while he was slumped on the ground defeated by his own pet. The dramatic bugger.

Obviously she got it from her other non-existent parent. It’d be an icy day in hell before he admitted otherwise.

“Well nice to know I’m not the only one, but nothing to do or not,” he trailed off, propping himself up on his elbows, “you don’t have to do that y’know.”

It was his mess after all. His mess, his problem. He’d hardly known the other for more than an hour and while appreciated this was...maybe a bit too nice? Hmm, that wasn’t quite right. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it but the other was quick to act; not fake or trying too hard just...a tad off. Albeit not in any way he could call bad.

She was nice and understanding and he liked her so far! Still.


He shrugged and flopped back down with a snarky look, “if she gets to sass me and use me as a bridge then she gets to be called a gremlin.”

She was happy to abandon his corpse in favor of Dakota's offered hand and if that didn’t just prove a point! And while he was sure he would have appreciated the notion of having someone on his side, Dakota's words of comradery probably would have felt more sincere if she hadn’t just played a part in spoiling the enemy with what she wanted.

“I know.” He deadpanned, pointedly staring her in the eyes as Kitty played with her. The evidence of her betrayal damming. “How dare she.”

It mattered little in the grand scheme of things though, or at least that was the lie he told himself, since she would always come back to harass him at the end of the week. Probably till the day he died, hellion she was.


“What were you doing out there when Kitty decided you were a good perch anyways? Studying? Or did she scare away your friends?” He doubted she was the type to take a nap out in the snow, that was usually his hobby.

He winced at the familiar image. "Sorry if she did."

Even once Elsi had told her she didn’t have to clean up the strewn books, she continued. Her footsteps gentle against the floor as she blinked at him for a moment “I don’t mind,” she had three siblings after all. Puffing out a soft breath she had created different piles, each seeming to have a different amount of books on it.

Laughing softly, she had moved Kitty onto her shoulder by now so she could continue cleaning. She had heard Elsi, so, making a joking glare towards him she seemed to huff out a soft breath. Though she did kinda agree with him silently, she tried to keep her stance on Kittys side “exactly..” Dakota murmured so he could hear as she swirled her finger in front of Kitty “..she betrayed you,” setting one more book down, Dakota now began to focus on the quills that had cascaded out along the ground.

When she heard his question however, Dakota perked out and looked at him. She hadn’t expected to be questioned on this, though she couldn’t say she minded. Taking a soft breath she thought over her answer “no, no Kitty didn’t scare off my friends,” biting her lip the girl rocked gently on her heels. She didn’t know how to explain to Elsi the real reason she had decided to hide out in the snowy courtyard “originally I planned to skate, but then I remembered about the snow and possible ice so I took my journal instead,” there, that would do for now.

@Elsian Cox

Ice skating was the first thing that came to mind, which would have made more sense if she hadn’t complained about the old weather being the problem. A moment later he realized she meant roller blading, or roller skating, he guessed.

Surprise, surprise. Wheels not working in snow? Yeah, he could see why she’d ditch the skates. Then again...

“The bridge doesn’t have snow or people, you could probably go there.” He paused, obviously thinking better of his words, “if you have knee pads... the stones worse than the courtyards.”

At the very least he hadn’t really seen many people hanging around there unless they were crossing, himself included with how drafty it could be but maybe he should rethink his stance a bit. Wasn’t exactly unpleasant as much as it was overlooked and outta the way. Nice view and plenty of room, it’d probably be perfect for the Hufflepuff.


Giving her a look he grinned, a sharp mischievous thing. “Unless you don’t like heights, that is. Then you probably shouldn’t use the bridge.” It was just as much a tease as it was a warning.

But not now, it was probably already close to getting dark and there was hardly any light to be had there. He said as much. It was likely near dinner time in an hour or so anyhow, it’d just be best to wait for another day at that point.

Oh how the day had gone by. So slow yet so fast when wasted on tests and homework.

Dakota paused for a moment, thinking this suggestion from Elsian over. On one hand, she could get hurt worse in areas that weren’t covered if she fell, in another hand, she did have the gear needed to protect herself as well as skates. Puffing out a soft sigh, she blinked at Elsian “I’ll..consider it,” that was the best she could give currently. She didn’t want to make promises.

She seemed to think about the next thing as she finished the last few pieces of cleaning up. Parting her lips, she shook her head “I don’t believe I have a fear of heights,” a light grin spread along her lips “even if I did, my older cousins would’ve tried to wear it out of me years ago,” with all the dangerous things they had done so far, it wouldn’t surprise Dakota.

Setting the last quill down in a pile she let out a relieved sigh. She had checked on Kitty befor elooking at the Gryffindor “you don’t happen to have a bag to carry all this in, do you?” she hoped he did. She didn’t feel like lugging around heavy books and multiple quills that she’d have to keep track of. Plus, she’d only be able to help bring them to the Gryffindor tower and the painting, no further than that.

@Elsian Cox

He scoffed, “Of course, I’m forgetful, not insane.” It would be a deathwish otherwise.

He made a grab for the pillow, dragging it forward and forcing himself to sit up with a grunt. Underneath the simple black messenger bag he’d brought, beat up but soft enough to shove under the pillow in a pile of fabric while his books weren’t in it. Perfect seeing as how that was all he really cared about.

It was one of his best. Something that anyone more fashionably inclined would suffer over but comfort was comfort. And when choosing between his hard leather bags or soft fabric there was no contest, he was choosing soft.

He brandished it like a flag, waving it slightly for all to see. Or well, for Dakota and one distracted spider. “Found it.” Luckily.

Getting up wasn't anything to look forward to. Not when it involved a trip to the fifth floor with a casket's worth of books but wants didn't account for needs and the very idea of taking these things to dinner made his heart ache. Solemnly, he got up moving to put away papers and shove as many of the books he could into his bag with a sigh; befitting someone holding the world on their shoulders or a teenager doing something they really didn't want to do. One could argue it was the same thing; Elsian would.

“I should probably take this to my room before dinner,” he groaned, tugging the bag over his shoulder and slowly snatching a book or two to hold under his arm. “I can take Kitty now? We’re all the way on the fifth floor so…” He shrugged, obviously giving her an out from having to walk up a bunch of stairs.

Kitty, as if knowing what was being said, seemed to shudder before slowly crawling down Dakota's side and hovering at her hip. Like a weak imitation of a child hiding behind their mothers skirts. She waited, seemingly not quite willing to get down.

She probably wondered if it was truly time to leave or whether a few more moments could be held onto with her new perch.

Dakota gave a joking scoff at Elsians first words. Though, a grin spread along her lips “ah sorry, I thought you were both~“ speaking in a joking tone she was prepared to avoid anything hurled or kicked at her. She was even prepared to avoid Elsian, though she doubted he would, to run at her.

While awaiting for Elsian to find the bag, Dakota had begun to wiggle her fingers at Kitty. She wanted to play with the spider. A soft laugh escaped her at that thought since the day before she would’ve flipped a table to just get away from a spider and now she was allowing one to crawl all over her.

Hearing that Elsian had found the bag Dakota snapped her gaze towards him. A soft smile appeared as she swayed forward and began to try to help him shovel books into the bag. It seemed like a slow process to her, then again, a lot of things seemed like a slow process to Dakota. Upon hearing Elsian was taking the books to his common room before dinner and feeling Kitty scuttle down to her hip she laughed softly. Reaching over, she took the remaining few things and the books Elsian had shoved under his arms before smiling at him “and miss seeing you walking up the stairs with that heavy bag? I think not,” this would be funny. Dakota already had a seeing it would.

@Elsian Cox

Those words got her a face full of pillow. No mercy, he chucked the soft weapon at her feeling a stab of satisfaction when it hit, despite the attempts to duck outta the way. Kitty worked against her in that regard. Couldn't quite throw yourself outta the way when you had 'delicate' cargo. Of course, if she wanted to play spider wrangler for him on the way who was he to refuse?

Shrugging the bag over his shoulder he gave her a sharp smile, "I dunno, breaks and a well placed levitation usually helps."

Still, no matter how honest the words were it was undeniable the relief his arms felt when some of the stack was taken. Two books was better than 5, no one could argue otherwise to him and Elsian was happy to tuck the thick notepads to his chest instead aiming a slightly softer smile at the girl.


"Thanks." Didn't hurt that his arm was freed up to grab the pillow and carry it under his arm now.

"Guess that's everything..." With, what was hopefully all his things, spider included, he walked to the previously closed door, holding it open with his hip for the others, "time for the stairs...yay." he droned, obviously used to if not pleased with the trip in front of them.

The company was nice at least.