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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 4, 2008 14:36:59 GMT -5
It had been a while since Michael had been to the Room of Requirement. And it had been longer still since he had sat in front of the ivory keys of a piano. When he had been younger, the piano had helped him when he hadn't been able to draw. It was much more acceptable to play the piano in company than sit in the corner and draw, it was considered much more mature. At Hogwarts it was much easier to draw without being looked down upon.
The few days since Michael's meeting with Dare he had had the urge to play, to feel the keys beneath his fingers, until he couldn't resist it any more and went to the Room of Requirement, shutting the door firmly behind him. He generally didn't let people hear him play, and he knew how likely it was that someone would walk in, but he needed to play, drawing wasn't helping him sort out his thoughts about Dare and he hoped that the music would help.
The first few notes were immediately soothing to his weary mind and he lost himself in it. It wasn't as effective at making him forget as drawing was, but it was a good change from the norm. Michael was relaxed, for the first time in days, as he watched his hands move over the keys, his red hair falling around his face, relaxed concentration etched into his features.
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Post by Cassie Jones on Jun 4, 2008 14:44:56 GMT -5
It had been several days since she had been to the Room of Requirement and she was positively itching to dance. That being the case she was just wearing her leotard and a short skirt. With her bag slung over her shoulder, she wandered back and forth until she heard the tell tale 'pop' that was the signal that the door had appeared. She pulled it open and immediately heard a piano being played. She hadn't heard one since she had left college and the music seemed oddly soothing. She stepped inside and closed the door behind her softly, letting her bag drop to the floor without a sound, she moved closer to the guy she could now see sitting before the piano, his fingers rippling over the keys. She stood and listened, a smile falling into place on her face.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 4, 2008 14:51:36 GMT -5
"It's not polite to walk in on someone," Michael said, slowing the music to where it was barely being played. Under normal circumstances, Michael would have stopped playing and made the other person leave. As it was, he was relaxed, short and simple, and he wasn't yet willing to give it up. For a split second he hoped it was Dare, but the glimpse he had through his hair and out of the corner of his eye said the figure was female.
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Post by Cassie Jones on Jun 4, 2008 14:59:41 GMT -5
Cassie blushed a little. "I'm sorry I didn't realise you were in here, I was intent on getting in so I guessed the room let me in" she said shrugging. "You're great by the way, I haven't heard the piano for ages, it's lovely to hear it, I missed it" she said softly, hoping to put him at ease. She bit her lip, feeling a little awkward, and brushed her fringe out of the way.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 4, 2008 15:09:40 GMT -5
"It's always nice to hear," Michael said, "Sometimes I think everyone should know how to play." He didn't look up at her, but kept playing softly, finally able to begin working things out in his mind. There wouldn't be any harm, right? They could just try it, nothing binding, nothing concrete. Just a little test to see.
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Post by Cassie Jones on Jun 4, 2008 15:38:02 GMT -5
"I used to play, then I got so caught up in dancing that I sort of stopped" Cassie admitted. She moved round so that she could be seen by the person playing the piano. "I'm Cassie by the way" she said, realising they hadn't introduced herself. She started to sing softly under her breath, her voice matching the music, the words nothing solid, just a whimsical tune. She didn't even realise she was doing it.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 4, 2008 15:53:29 GMT -5
Michael purposefully changed keys, uncomfortable with her singing along with him and hoping that the key change would be enough to discourage it. "Michael," he said, glancing up at her. His eyes immediately turned back to the keys, though, her face sending him back a few years, knocking Dare temporarily out of his mind.
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Post by Cassie Jones on Jun 4, 2008 15:57:37 GMT -5
Cassie noticed the change in the music and stopped singing. "Oh I was singing again wasn't I?" she questioned Michael, sighing. "I'm sorry it's a habit I got into that I haven't broken yet" she apologised. Cassie noticed how he glanced at her, then turned away, as if her appearance had caused him pain. "What is it?" she asked, a little curious why someone couldn't look at her. She bit her lip, knowing that she had sounded ruse. "Sorry," she said, then smiled despite herself, she had only known him for two minutes and already she was apologising all the time.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 4, 2008 16:09:15 GMT -5
"Just bad memories," Michael said, his left forearm tensing as he said it underneath the long sleeves that went halfway down his hand. Cassie wouldn't be able to see it, the motion was gone the second it had started. "You didn't do anything," he assured her, glancing up again, it wasn't so bad the second time because he was ready for it.
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Post by Cassie Jones on Jun 4, 2008 16:14:40 GMT -5
Cassie nodded, "I seem to be bothering a lot of people lately" she said with a rueful smile. Ever since her life had been splashed across the gossip pages that was. "Where did you learn to play so well?" she asked, sitting on the chair that had just appeared for her. She tucked her feet back, getting comfortable.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 4, 2008 16:24:34 GMT -5
"I had a tutor from the time I was six until...." he looked off towards the wall, "Ten, maybe? Nearly every day." He turned his gaze down once more to his hands, trying to remember the many notes to the piece he was playing. He had always had a really good memory, but when he hadn't played in so many months, that didn't mean much.
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Post by Cassie Jones on Jun 4, 2008 18:07:45 GMT -5
Cassie nodded, she could sense he wasn't comfortable looking at her, and it made her uneasy for some reason. "I've missed music so much since I arrived here, my life used to be full of it, and now it's only snatches here and there" she sighed, brushing her fringe out of the way.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 4, 2008 18:15:56 GMT -5
The music came to him and he looked up at her as he played, "I don't play in front of people," he said, giving her a look before turning away again and losing himself to the music, almost forgetting she was there. He wasn't meaning to be rude, but when he was thinking about something the way he was, he wasn't too keen on being interrupted.
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Post by Cassie Jones on Jun 4, 2008 18:18:08 GMT -5
Cassie got up, she knew when she wasn't wanted. "I'm sorry I intruded, I guess I'll come back later" she said, she went and picked up her back. "It was nice meeting you though and it was great to hear some music again" she said softly. She paused for a moment before turning away and slipping out the room.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 4, 2008 18:23:25 GMT -5
Michael took a moment to enjoy the absence of Cassie before going back fully to the music. While it had been easy to let himself go with her in the room, he still had had the feeling of being watched that he couldn't stand. He was once again silent and relaxed, just him and the music.
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