leisure (seamus/julie/open)

[zabini]

Hyperion had taken up his usual table near the rear of the library, intending to enjoy the freedom that the fifth years now had as their OWL exams were complete. School would be letting out in less than two weeks, and he wasn't quite sure what he was going to do with the summer. Hyperion made a mental note to make more of an effort to hang out with Seamus and Julie, for how close they were it was odd how little they saw of each other.

He flipped open the Arithmancy book he had picked up out of sheer interest, only casually skimming it rather than trying to absorb what was before him. Hyperion was ready to advance to NEWT level work, but he would welcome the summer holidays. Hyperion ignored the sound of approaching footsteps, figuring whoever it was would pass him by.

[julie]

Julie smiled when she saw Hyperion from behind, she had hoped that he would be there. In all honesty, she missed her friends, but she had been spending quite a lot of time with Darren. She plopped down in the chair across from where one of her best friends was reading. "Exams are over, you nurd," said Julie, grinning, "or did you not get the memo?"

[zabini]

"Very funny, Julie," said Hyperion, looking up from his book with a smile. He closed the heavy Arithmancy book, which puffed out a cloud of dust. It obviously had not been picked up in quite some time. "I was just casually looking at what I might expect next year in Arithmancy," Hyperion added, as if trying to justify the reason he was in the library on such a nice day.

[julie]

Julie smiled, she had always admired how easy every subject seemed to be for Hyperion, especially the more difficult ones like Transfiguration and Arithmancy. He was a talented wizard. "You're going to make me look like a slacker, you over-achiever," said Julie, giving Hyperion a playful punch on the shoulder, "so I take it you're keeping all your classes, then?" She was planning on dropping most of hers the next term, give herself an easy last two years of magical education.

[zabini]

Hyperion chuckled a bit, Julie never failed to bring out his more relaxed side. He knew that he tended to be a little uptight, the petite girl sitting across from him and Seamus reminded him to have fun every once in a while. "Most likely," said Hyperion, "I might drop Ancient Runes, but I really am fond of it. What are you keeping?" He liked to explore academic interests, he found most of his subjects too interesting to not continue.

[julie]

Julie crinkled her nose a bit, she was not terribly confident in her OWL exams, although she was quite glad to be rid of them. All of them had been terribly difficult, at least the written portions were. Her Transfiguration exam had been a nightmare, her tortoise (which had formerly been a tea kettle) still had a willow-patterned shell, breathed steam, and had a handle for a tail. "Whatever I managed high enough marks on the OWL for," Julie sighed. She wouldn't be too surprised if she was the one student that didn't score high enough in anything.

[zabini]

Hyperion frowned, he knew that Julie had difficulties in school, but surely she hadn't done that poorly. If need be he would tutor her and she could re-take the OWLs during the summer, but he was confident that she had passed at least half, if not more, of the exams. "You mustn't be so hard on yourself," said Hyperion, "I think you're just worrying too much about them."

[julie]

"Maybe," said Julie, mirroring Hyperion's frown. She had never thought too highly of herself, and ever since last summer her self-esteem issues had been even worse. Julie, of course, never discussed her mental anguishes with anyone, not even Seamus and Hyperion. Julie didn't want to be viewed as weak or damaged, but it seemed that most days were a struggle to even get out of bed. All Julie wanted to do was lie there, staring up at the ceiling.

[zabini]

Hyperion exchanged his frown in favour of a more neutral expression, in hopes that he would lighten Julie's mood about the potential outcome of her exams. He personally felt that OWLs weren't a good idea, not because of the stress of exams, but it just didn't seem right to determine someone's future when they were fifteen or sixteen. "Well, scores aside, what do you want to continue taking?" asked Hyperion, hoping to lighten the mood, if only a little bit.

[julie]

Julie too allowed the muscles in her face to relax, she didn't want her expression to allow even a slight hint of her ongoing depression into the open. It pained her, keeping everything inside, pretending as if everything was all right, but she wasn't going to allow herself to be a burden on anyone. "Charms, Care of Magical Creatures," said Julie, her tone suggesting she was thinking aloud, "and maybe Defense Against the Dark Arts and Divination, but those depend on scores."