A Badger and a Snake PV Closed

Mia walked along the lake, the wind in her hair. It was nearing summer break, and the breeze was cool against her fair, unburnt, skin.

She smiled. The breeze tousled her auburn hair, and she smoothed it down into a long, wavy line down her back.

Tugging at her robes, Mia headed for her usual tree. It was there she had met Ami and Mae-who were now some of her closest friends-and it was there that she loved to read, tucked into her own corner of the world.

Mia approached the tree, only to see someone else in her spot. True, she didn't own it, but she was there enough-when taking a break from practicing or studying-that people knew it was hers.

Mia grimaced and walked closer, nearing the ginger girl at the base of the tree.

Hello. Would you mind moving? This is kind of my spot.

Mia smiled a half smiled and pulled her book-a worn copy of The Giver-close to her chest. It was tattered, and the cover had very nearly fallen off, but it was Silas's, and stealing it from him was one of the best decisions of her life. Plus, he was a Quidditch player after all, what did he need a children's book for?

Clearing her throat, she focused back in on the girl, tapping her foot. She was worried as how the girl was going to react, but really, if the girl said no, she could just make a fuss. It was a Hufflepuff she was dealing with.

As Rosie opened her eyes to read, the other girl was already standing there in front of her. The first thing that struck her about the girl was her hair. Rosie was always struggling with her fiery red curls. She didn't envy many people, but she did envy anyone with manageable hair.

Hello. Would you mind moving? This is kind of my spot.

Rosie just kind of blinked for a second. Was she serious? She turned and looked at the tree, looked for some sort of carving, or heck, maybe even a plaque. When none were found, she turned back to the girl and blushed. Um... Sure. I didn't realize this spot belonged to you. Now, some people may think Rosie was being smart, but she was in fact genuine. There were all kinds of rules in the wizarding world that didn't exist in the muggle one. She suspected that this girl was probably just a jerk, but she couldn't be for sure.

All that said, there was no way she was completely give up a shaded spot by the lake. This was a prime reading spot. She looked around the immediate vicinity. Ummm... Here. She moved from the spot she was sitting in and off to the side. She was still by the bank and she was still shaded by the tree, but she no longer was sitting in the girl's spot. Win for everyone. Or so she hoped anyway.

Rosie wanted to ask the girl what she was reading, but she wasn't 100% sure that she wanted to talk to her. Instead, she crossed her legs and laid her book in her lap. She had goals and she wanted to finish this book today.

Um... Sure. I didn't realize this spot belonged to you. Ummm... Here.

Mia smirked. The girl was a pushover, and Mia could sense it. From the way she blushed, to the way she looked around, trying to find some sort of plaque, she reeked of easy, simple, and a complete pushover.

Still she sighed and sat down, placing her book on her lap, ready to read. It was no fun challenging a pushover, no fun at all. If you challenged one they would run, or agree, or bow down, or, as the name suggests, let you push them over.

She opened up the book in her lap and started reading, getting absorbed.

“For the first time, he heard something that he knew to be music. He heard people singing. Behind him, across vast distances of space and time, from the place he had left, he thought he heard music too. But perhaps, it was only an echo.”

Mia sighed and looked around closing the book. She couldn't focus, not with the girl sitting so close to her. Maybe it was her fiery red curls, which everyone seemed to have at Hogwarts, or maybe the way she was reading her book, savoring it.

Mia's mouth turned down, and looked up at the sky. Why couldn't she focus on that?But no. The girl's bright red curls were too much in her way. Some would call them refreshing. She called them annoying.

Howie breathed deeply as he jogged around the lake. Dressed in a simple T shirt and gym shorts, he began his final lap. It was so often cloudy and dreary up in the highlands of Scotland that Howie decided to take advantage of this rare sunny day by going for a run. It was warm, and his brow dripped with sweat, but a cool breeze was blowing off the lake. 

Looking ahead he saw the tree in which he was using to mark his laps. He dug in deep for the final stretch, sprinting to the finish. As he got closer he spotted two figures under the tree, both girls by the lengths of thier hair. One auburn, and one ginger. Ginger...curls...Rosie! He recognized her as he came closer and closer. 

He stopped a few yards short of them, they were both sitting under the tree with books. Howie approached, walking with his hand on his hips, still breathing heavily. He wiped the sweaty strands of hair out of his face, “Hey Rosie!” Howie eyes the auburn haired girl, giving her a friendly smile, although she seemed a bit out off at the moment. His attention back on Rosie, “How ya doin! Nose in a book again I see.” He gave her a beaming smile, a reaction he could not help when he saw her.

Rosie felt eyes on her in a way that made it difficult for her to read. Of course, that was probably the rude little girl that thought the tree belonged to her. Looking up from her book she, didn't turn to the girl right away. Instead, she looked out at the water and sighed. After a moment, she turned her head, her frizzy, unruly hair getting caught on her shoulder and blocking her face as she did. With the hand that wasn't holding the book. she pushed her curls out of her face and onto her back. She looked directly at the girl and blinked. Man, if looks could kill. In this moment, she was thankful that they, in fact, could not.

The other girl wasn't reading her book. As suspected, she was looking at Rosie. Or maybethrough Rosie. What are you reading?She showed the girl her cover as a type of trade. Ever read The Giver?

She looked up again at the sound of yet someone else approaching. Howie! She returned the beaming smile, though she tried to hid it from the other girl. For some reason, she felt self conscious about her reaction.

How ya doin! Nose in a book again I see.

She laughed in response. Of course. She again turned her attention to the auburn haired girl. This is my best friend Howie. My name is Rosie. With that, Rosie waited expectantly, hoping the girl would give her name in return.

What are you reading?Ever read The Giver?

Mia smirked. The girl could obviously see her book cover, and was playing dumb for the sake of it. or she just didn't look to see what the girl was reading. Either way, she didn't want to answer her stupid question.

And she didn't have to.

Hey Rosie! How ya doin'! Nose in a book again I see.

Mia looked up at the boy in front of her. He was damp, and definitely not dressed according to the dress code. Again, who was? She had noticed many a first year frolic around wearing clothes from home.

Mia was not that kind of person. If she broke the dress code-which wasn't often, she'd wear her robes as a kind of sweater, or shield, and something all black underneath. One could call her a stickler. She just thought of herself as a good student.

Sure, on the weekends it was perfectly fine not to wear the full uniform, Mia never did, preferring turtlenecks and comfy jeans, but on the week days? Well, if Valtome caught you...

Mia sighed and looked at the boy further. He was handsome in his own kind of way, but reeked boyishness that reminded her of the girl next to her-Rosie, so it seemed.

Of course. This is my best friend Howie. My name is Rosie!

The girl looked at her expectantly, and Mia nodded, showing a hint of a smile.

Mia Alexander.

Mia looked at them, observing their expressions. Her last name was influential in both the magical and the wizarding, and if they knew her family they might shy away. If not-or maybe if they did-they would keep talking to her.

Howie laughed with Rosie, giving her a playful wink, he hadn’t expected to run into her and was pleasantly surprised. Usually his runs were a way to be alone and to contemplate as he exercised, but it was too nice a day to spend in solitude. He took a step forward, letting the tree shade him from the warm sun.  

This is my best friend Howie. My name is Rosie.

Rosie had turned back to the auburn haired girl, and introduced the pair to her. Howie looked down to the sitting girl, giving her a friendly nod and smile.  His smile quickly faltered. The young witch was looking him over in a way that made him feel uncomfortable, an almost disapproving look in her eye. What!? He thought as he looked himself over, expecting to see an unsightly stain or tear in his clothing. Howie’s eyebrows scrunched together as he tried to decipher the girls look, his usually bright eyes darkened, his arms crossing defensively. 

Mia Alexander.

Mia introduced herself as if it was supposed to mean something. She reminded Howie of the kids back home that lived on the well to do side of the village, always thought they were so damned important. She had an air of snobbinish that Howie could smell out anywhere. “Hello.” He said rather bluntly.

With Howie entering the conversation, Rosie didn't notice that the girl hadn't answered. Rosie didn't miss the way Mia looked at Howie. The only way she could she could describe that look would be "appraising." And yes, she did indeed catch the disapproval in the girl's eye, but there was something else too. That something else that Rosie couldn't put her finger on is what she didn't like. It was something akin to appreciation. Of course it could have been her imagination. Rosie looked down at the ground and pulled at a piece of grass, breaking it away from the ground.

She looked up in time to catch the girl's, Mia was her name, smile. That little hint of a smile seemed genuine, which is why she was surprised by Howie's tone when he greeted her. Her brows raised when he crossed his arms. This was indeed a new look for him. Had he seen the disapproval as well? Had he missed the smile?

Rosie cleared her throat. This interaction got awkward quickly. Nice to meet you, Mia. Of course Mia's last name meant absolutely nothing to her. Of course, this might be a dead giveaway that she and Howie both were muggleborn. It was always in the back of her mind that people might treat her differently if they found out, but Mia had caught her and she didn't even realize it- yet. But that was the risk you took when you spoke to people here, and more so if they happened to be in Slytherin.

Hello.

The boy spoke rather bluntly, and she raised one eyebrow, interested. While the girl was boring-not all that boring, just devoid of any drama or conflict potential-this boy was interesting.

Taking another look, she found that he was stronger than she realized, and more there. He had a presence, with his arms crossed like that, and was making himself known.

Mia's mouth stayed in her usual straight line. It wasn't like she was going to treat him differently or nicer because of this fact. If anything, she would challenge him more, and try to push him. It was her nature.

Nice to meet you, Mia

The girl cleared her throat before saying this and she seemed-well she seemed eager to please. Something Mia didn't like at all.

Pleasure.

Mia kept it short and pointed, and cast her eyes towards the girl when she said this. The girl seemed content, but still nervous, probably because of the girl's look towards her friend.

What were they to each other? Mia had never heard of either, so they probably weren't a couple-news got around fast in the common room-but they seemed close. The boy had given up jogging to say hi, and he looked at her affectionately.