The World Outside the Walls PV Violet Best Closed

The first grader couldnt hide her excitement about todays appointment with Simon during classes, time went by tenaciously slow and she spent most of it daydreaming outside the window.
Imagining herself and Simon drawing the beautiful mountains flanking Hogwarts, laughing and joking. Violets head got heavier and heavier, her eyes shut closed once, twice. 'Ahh Simon lets try to add some clouds to that picture' She dropped her brush as she tried to make a stroke, as Violet tried to pick it up her head hit the canvas stand. 'Ouch' she said out loud as her head hit the desk. She has slept in class! A few students who observed her laughed a little and the teacher scolded her for not paying attention.

After surviving the rest of the classes Violet rushed to her dorm where she stored the painting equipment. 'Greenhouse 1, lets see' she though then darted off with the canvas under one arm and a box of brushes and acryl in the other. Her breath formed little clouds in the cold air as she went went past other students returning from their lessons.
As the young girl reached the greenhouse she found Simon sitting on the floor with a notebook on his lap drawing. "SIIIMOON" she shouted and waved with the hand within which she held the box of brushes as she came closer.

He heard her voice and knew right away it was her because they were meeting there. He glanced up from his notebook - not his best work but it also looked as though he made an attempt. He closed the notebook and stuffed it quickly into his bag before getting up. His bag was tossed over his shoulder and he joined where the other Hufflepuff stood, greeting her with both a smile and a hug.

"Hey Vi," he said to her. I heard Potions were getting out late today, wasn't sure if that was your last class or not. Most classes at Hogwarts seemed to get out on time, but now and then there was that unruly class that needed to stay after or perhaps a particularly exciting class that spilled over just a little. It didn't happen often, but it did happen. "

"Alright, so we're doing a little painting outside, yes?" That was the plan. It's what they had said they were going to do. The two walked from their meeting spot and out the Entrance of the Castle where Simon pushed through the heavy wooden doors and held the one open for her. Once through, he slipped his hands to the hood of his sweatshirt and pulled it up, not for warmth but to cover himself from the sun that was still in the sky above.

And that wasn't a bad thing per say. If they were going to be on the school grounds to attempt to draw or paint the nature around them, they had to be able to SEE the nature around them. It was just a shame that the sun that provided them with the light to do so was the very same sun that caused him such trouble. It wasn't too harsh out that day though. He'd be fine. "So what were you thinking? Trees? Flowers? You could render me like one of the French girls," he made a sort of Titanic reference but wasn't sure if the girl would even get it. Maybe it was best she didn't.

Violet returned the hug with one arm, the other was still holding onto the canvas. "Sorry I got a bit late, had to run back to the dorm to get the canvas. I think those poor sods from potion class are still stuck with Professor Barlow." She followed Simon as he pushed the heavy wooden doors open. It was even colder outside than inside the castle, the stairs were slippery as they walked down and Violet had to hold onto Simon as she almost fell.

"I thought we could paint the mountains flanking the castle. I havent had much time to go outside since we arrived in september." She looked at his outfit and pulled an eyebrow up. "Arent you freezing? It must be quite cold with just a sweatshirt on."

Violet enjoyed beeing outside, the sun on her skin felt good and the air was fresh. She could make out the windswept grassy expanse to the north with the arching Hill and Mountains expanding up to the Horizon. "Over there the dome like greenhouse could provide us the overview we need. I already have a scene in my head that would be beautiful." Her eyes glancing back over to Simon as they went towards the greenhouse ahead of them.

In her mind she imagined a jungle of colourful plants inside the greenhouse to border the victorian glass and in the background the vast expanses of the Scottish highlands.

"I'm not cold," he said to her in regards to his clothing. His body temperature was already always a little lower than others and therefore things like the cold didn't affect him the same. He was perfectly fine. His arm came around her to make sure she caught her balance as they headed down the steps and out onto the Grounds. She seemed to have a particular destination in mind, so he would let her lead the way.

"Here, let me take those," he said of the canvases and maybe even some of the paints or paintburhses. The two stopped a moment so he could help her with the supplies and once he had more than enough in hand he flashed her a smile. "I love how you're willing to help share your talent with me," he wanted her to know. "Not everyone would take the time to teach someone something." She was a good friend to him and this was only their second time meeting.

When the two began again, they headed across the Grounds. At least there wasn't snow on the ground. If there had been, it would be reflecting off the sunlight all around and well, that just wasn't good for a dhampir. The sun alone was bad enough. The sun AND reflected sunlight - really not good.

"Think the wind will cause us any issues?" he asked. It whipped against them as if questioning why two students were outside on a day like this!

Violet shared the painting equipment with Simon and they both continued their way to towards the greenhouse.
"No I dont think the wind will bother us too much once we are inside. I thought the greenhouse ahead could provide us with a nice overview of Hogwarts surrounding highlands."
As they reached the door of the greenhouse she pushed down the doorhandle and hot air from the inside gushed out into the cold winter air forming steamclouds.

Winding stairs led up to a room below a dome of glass. Victorian leadframes supported the structure and plants in flowerpots were aligned in rows throughout the room. In the distance the towering mountains could be seen.
"Its beautiful." Violet expressed astonished by the sheer amount of flowers, herbs, plants and colours brightening the room up.
There were climbing plants with red and white orchid like flower heads. A few plants with large leafs fanning out reminding Violet of a peafowl with the blue blossoms inbetween. Ferns and other unnamed plants grew inbetween and gave off the illusion of a small jungle.

Violet turned around amazed and didnt knew where to look at first. "I love the greenhouses it feels like a jungle inside now all we are missing are butterflies and small caterpillars to make it the perfect butterfly house." She went to the middle of the greenhouse and set her and Simons canvas up, ready to turn the greenhouse into their venue. "Allright lets get started shall we?"

It was bright, the large glass windows allowed maximum sunlight to enter, the way it was supposed to and it was warm inside, much like the jungle that she described. Simon still had on his hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up and really had no intention on lowering it. He knew at some point it would seem awkward but he'd go with it for now.

"You know, after the winter break, perhaps I can get you walking around this place a little more." He didn't mind this at all and was enjoying himself and time with his new friend but he also wanted her to explore - not just with her mind or her artistic creativity. He wanted to make sure she had gotten to the Great Lake, the one grove of trees on the school grounds that was great for climbing, and maybe inside to some of the castle's little known secrets. "Show you some points of interest."

She was used to staying in and while that was sometimes a comfort, one needed to get out of their comfort zone to grow. Maybe that would be a way in which Simon could help out Violet. He looked out to the landscape before them at what he was going to paint. Part of him wanted to slip on some sunglasses as well but maybe that would lead to not finding perfect colors when mixing paints.

"So how is the best way to approach it? Basic outlines? Light Colors first?" Simon held his brush up closer to his face just to see it. It had been awhile since he used one. It reminded him back in his muggle school when they had art. Some classes he missed because they didn't have similar ones at Hogwarts - art, music, theater.

Violet was touched by Simons offer to show her more of Hogwarts and maybe they had the chance to explore more of the inside before curfew was about to be over.
The young artist took a moment to prepare some colours and a bit of water from the tap of the greenhouse. She chose the biggest brush, some blue acryl colour a touch of black and alot of white added to it. "Okay lets start with the sky and the clouds that can be seen through the window." She mixed the colours and applied them in a few quick strokes accross the upper half of the picture. "Im going for the darkest tone first and then brighting it up until I can highlight the edges." She looked over to Simon and observed him starting with his picture.

It felt good to have someone sharing the same passion and she realized what she had missed the most since she came to Hogwarts, a friend.
After painting a bit of the sky she drew the mountains and highlands infront of them. Then the glasswork of the greenhouse. Looking over to Simon from time to time to make sure he had fun and didnt feel frustrated.
As her painting reached the core of the picture the plantlife of the greenhouse Violet paused stretching her body which had become stiff from standing and painting.
"Ugh my hands hurt from holding the brush. How about yours?" she shook them out and gave off a light smile towards him.

It already started to get late and the sun scratched the horizont towards the west colouring the sky red and violet.
"How about a break and we watch the sundawn?" she asked him, the sky was really beautiful tonight.

His looked...okay. It didn't look like an eight year old did it or something like that so that was a plus, but it wasn't as good as the drawings he had attempted. Small steps. Baby steps. He glanced over as Violet mentioned her hands were hurting. His hadn't been, but then again when he looked at the progress he had made on his canvas compared to that of the other Hufflepuffs - well, it was quite minimal.

Hers looked fantastic and he looked it over as she took her momentary break and shook out her hands and caught a stiller glance at the sunset, looking at it in terms of its beauty and not just light and dark and mixes of colors. Simon took a moment to appreciate it as well. "Sure, we can go." It wasn't as if the sun would be any worse outside the greenhouse than inside.

Simon helped her gather up the brushes and went over to the water to rinse them out before coming back to help with the canvases. Together they headed out further onto the Grounds to find a good sunset watching spot. Normally this was something he didn't do, one because of the big buildings of London, but also because he normally didn't think of going out until after the sun had set. It was nice to slow down and appreciate some of these things.

"It's a good thing we stopped when we did," Simon said, making sure to rest the canvases gently near a fallen branch of a tree but kept them so that they would dry evenly and not cause the paint the run. "I wasn't adding any purple at all into my sky."

Sunset over the Scottish Highlands with @Simon Kincaid

Her heart made jumps as Simon agreed to go watch the sunset together. She was still somewhere in cloud nine when they stored away the painting equipment, washed the brushes and packed up the canvas. They walked together over the open highlands surrounding Hogwarts. Coming past a small group of firs Violet watched Simon put the canvas onto a fallen branch to let them dry.
She chuckled a little as he said that he didnt add any purple at all into his picture. "Neither did I. I guess mother nature is more beautiful than we can capture on a single painting."
As they continued their walk over the grounds a swarm of birds could be seen flying across the sky towards the now glittering lake radiating the sunlight like a thousand diamonds. The sky started changing colours. An intense yellow paired with red and with spots of purple gaining in size as the clouds moved with the wind. Violet looked up and watch watched them for a brief moment before the birds descended into the lake.
She linked herself into the boys arm. 'What are you doing there Violet?' She opened her eyes a little wider as her thoughts struck her mind. 'What were you thinking?' She stopped walking. Her eyes glanced over to Simon, how his face was draped into the half shadow of his hoodie, his chin, his lips, his eyes and the undefined expression in them.