Almost

[Ariel Logan Callahan]

It was almost warm enough to go in the water again. Ariel could feel it, he was so close to being able to swim outside as much as he wanted to again. He could also feel the urge to pull out another little black stick, and he did so out of his almost empty pack. He sat on a large rock outcropping crosslegged over the water and blew a cloud of relief out in front of him.

[Harmony Sounds]

Harmony had decided that if she was going to have to be stuck at Hogwarts, then she may as well find some way of keeping herself entertained. And so she made her way to the lake hoping that someone was down there doing something really stupid so she could have a good laugh.

To her chagrin however, all she found at the lake was a boy sitting on large rock. "Well he isn't being very entertaining now is he?" Harmony muttered to herself disapprovingly. She walked to the edge of the lake, just within eyesight of the boy, and flipped her hair like she always did when she wanted attention.

[Ariel Logan Callahan]

Ariel caught the girl out of the corner of his eye, but he had no reason to pay any attention to her. She was far enough away from his little outcropping that he didn't even have to acknowledge her presence if he didn't want to. And he didn't want to. He put his elbows on his knees and looked out over the water where the light breeze was making little waves. He took a long drag, debating whether or not he should just finish the box today and buy another few packs that weekend.

[Harmony Sounds]

After a few minutes Harmony realized that the boy was not going to suddenly throw himself at her like normal guys do. Harmony pouted slightly at being ignored for it had never happened to her before. "Well if he doesn't want to pay attention to me willingly . . . I will make him pay attention to me!" She mused to herself and started casually walking towards the boy.

[Ariel Logan Callahan]

Ariel's eyes flickered over to the girl, but he still didn't say anything. He wasn't about to openly say that he wasn't interested in girls, but he wasn't about to go after one just to hide the fact, either. He had done that once before, and it had failed miserably. Whatever the girl wanted, she could come up and try it herself. He focused out on the lake where the giant squid was making an appearance.

[Harmony Sounds]

"Well hello there," Harmony called as she played with her hair. Her strong British accent flawless as always. She smiled to herself believing herself to be irresistible and wondered how he would react when he realized that he wanted her. Her smile broadened at the possibilities scurrying around in her head.

[Ariel Logan Callahan]

Ariel turned his head to look at the girl and raised an eyebrow. He stared for a moment, then said a flat "Hi" around the black cig in his mouth and turned to look back at the lake. He took it from his lips between his fingers and blew the smoke out slowly, letting himself relax. There wasn't much time for him to relax during the week, well, any time, really. But when he had one of those little sticks and, more recently, certain other things, he was good.

[Harmony Sounds]

"I haven't seen you around before, grant it I just transferred here but I thought I knew most of the Slytherins. Who are you?" She asked him as she eyed the stick. She hadn't ever met anyone smoked before and was mildly intrigued by the boy and his habit.

[Ariel Logan Callahan]

"Most definitely not a Slytherin," Ariel said, glancing up at her. He wasn't in the mood to deal with another girl, not with how the last one had ended up. His nose wrinkled at the memory of how the girl, Lafra, had tried to help him. He didn't need any help. He was fine just the way he was. His head jerked in a little nod and he brought the stick back to his lips.

[Harmony Sounds]

"Oh," Harmony taken aback. Well I guess that explains why I don't know him, she realized. I feel so stupid! "Well what house are you in?" She was hoping to some how salvage the conversation that may as well have been doomed from the beginning.

[Ariel Logan Callahan]

"Gryffindor," Ariel said, then glanced up at her and blew the sweet smelling smoke toward her. "I'd ask you the same if you hadn't so kindly told me a minute ago." He probably should have been a little kinder, considering he didn't know what the girl was like or if she would turn him in for smoking. Well, at least his brother knew he was smoking and he couldn't get into too much trouble for it.

[Harmony Sounds]

Quite sarcastic this one. "Do you have a problem with me being in Slytherin?" She asked harshly putting her hands on her hips. I guess that was a bit too harsh. Oh well I am not taking it back.

[Ariel Logan Callahan]

Ariel shrugged and took another drag before he answered. "I'm a Gryffindor, according to the older guys in my house, I'm supposed to have a problem with Slytherins," he said, though he figured a lot of it was leftovers from back when there had been such a big rivalry. It didn't really seem like it was a big deal anymore. Dare and Michael were from Gryffindor and Slytherin, right? He wrinkled his nose and pushed away those thoughts, they only led somewhere he didn't want to go.

[Harmony Sounds]

"Good," she stated and sat down next to him. She was inhaling the smoke from the cigarettes. Well at least they smell good she convinced herself. As odd and different as this boy was, he was beginning to grow on her.

[Ariel Logan Callahan]

Ariel stared at the girl for another second, wondering why in the world she was sitting next to him. What was it with girls and insisting on being near him? He wondered absently if there was a place he could go where there weren't girls. "Who are you, anyway?" he asked, more because she didn't seem like the type to just go away than because of any real curiosity.