nothing (open)

[marvel]

Marvel's gaze was intensely focused on the table in front of him. His hands were clenched into fists, and his mind worked feverishly. Unlike most other nights, he was empty handed. No homework or novels could keep him company at that moment in time. Ever since that Malfoy girl had been killed, he'd been in a state of confusion. He had no clue what to do. Nothing made much sense. In fact, nothing was the defining word in his thought.

Nothing should have provoked anyone enough to kill on the school grounds. Nothing is what should have happened to Ascella. And nothing was exactly what he could do about the confusing feelings resting in the pit of his stomach.

Marvel had been attracted to her. She was different than that of her siblings, and different than that of her peers. She had been intelligent. She had been wild. She had been free. Marvel was never a fan of useless violence, but never had it hit nearly so close to his soul. They'd barely spoken, but they'd become familiar with one another. Marvel wasn't an open person, but something about Ascella had made him desire to reveal himself to her. She had been able to understand his mind.

Marvel wasn't paying much attention, which was another first. Therefore, he didn't see the other individual wander into the group common room that late in the evening...

[natalia]

Nat didn't know what had kept her so long, but somewhere between setting her bags on the greenhouse tables and opening her new book, she had lost herself, content knowing the greenhouses were her for the evening. When she looked up, searching for her other book, she'd found herself gazing at her watch. An hour past curfew.

Again.

"No," she groaned. She wasn't afraid of being late, she was afraid of those who were also often late. It was often late she found herself at the mercy of bullies who she didn't have the heart to insult. There was only one she could truly look at and find nothing good in, and even when the Malfoy boy had been suffering, she had to offer one sliver of a kind word to him. Silently she fumed about her "big heart" and the bullies and her lack of a back bone as she yanked her jacket on, flipping her thick, uncontrolled raven hair out of. Ever so slowly, it was beginning to curl as she not only grew taller but older. Grabbing her pack, she didn't look long, just long enough to make sure no Aurors would catch her....or worse.

By the time she hit the common room, she was panting, and paused when a dark head stirred. She blinked, catching a vaguely familiar profile, and mentally went through a list of every Ravenclaw who would get her in trouble. No, that wasn't where she knew him from. In attempt to recognize the feeling of dej a vu, she set her pack on the seat beside him, rustling her book she was reading merely for plot and entertainment. She looked up, and realized where she knew him from. She'd met him in the graveyard, the boy, Marvel, was it?, who could speak Italian. She was going to offer a smile before she noted the dark look on his somber face. She set the book down, sitting on the floor across from him as she looked up.

"Hi," Marvel was a lot older, so she never saw him except for that one night, and Nat wasn't good with words. Ravenclaws seemed to understand her lack of words better than others, but even some Ravenclaws didn't realize how precious words were to her. Sometimes starting off with a greeting, or ending things with a thank-you was the most important thing for her.

[marvel]

Marvel looked up slowly, recognizing the voice. It was that girl he'd met in the graveyard. Nat, wasn't it? He managed the smallest of smiles towards her with his own soft "Hello." He shook his head, his deep thinking being brought to a bitter end and bringing on a heavy bought of exhaustion. Turning towards her, he raised an eyebrow. "You look rather frazzled, Nat," he noted. The girl was looking wild. Of course, from the little he'd seen of her, Nat's hair was rather wild, thus giving her the impression of being perpetually rushed.

Marvel found his lips wavering at even the slightest of a smile, and he drew his face back into a rather somber smile. He nodded his head towards his new companion, towards the book in her lap. "Herbology?" he asked curiously. His hand traveled to the book beside him, a large informational book about various charms. It was his best subject, and it was a most useful skill. He had various charms set about his home to protect his mother from his drunken father. Marvel had even begun to teach his beloved sister Clove some of the most useful, protective charms to keep herself away from that dastardly father of his...

[natalia]

Nat returned the smile, although his heart wasn't in it. "Indeed," she ran a hand through the thick mess, although it did little to tame it. "All of that rebellion," she said sarcastically. She paused, following his perceptive gaze to the book. She nodded. "Do you like Herbology?" She wasn't going to directly ask. She was bad at that. The comfort concept had always thrown her. She knew so little about him, she couldn't even begin to guess what was happening to throw the 7th year.