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Post by Diantha Delagardie on Jun 11, 2015 15:02:49 GMT -5
It wasn't that Diantha disliked libraries. As a matter of fact, she quite enjoyed reading. On her terms. This wasn't a trip that was on her own terms, and she would rather be exploring the castle. It was massive, the largest she had ever been in, despite the large estates she'd visited over the years. Still, it wouldn't do to grumble. Better to focus so she could quickly find what she was looking for. Her pale eyebrows knitted tightly, pulling slightly at the rest of her long hair, which was pulled back tightly into a bun. Her hair was long enough that a few wisps still managed to float around the back of her neck. Surely the book would be on this shelf somewhere...
At least her parents had consented to let her start Hogwarts during the summer term. It meant less time spent with the family and more time with a slightly more empty school she could explore at her leisure without worrying about bumping into hundreds of other students all the time. She could size up the place, get a feel for the professors and classes, and hopefully manage to come out on top. Maybe she'd try to do what she'd claimed to her father she would, too.
Maybe.
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Post by Castiel Catalyst on Jun 11, 2015 15:27:59 GMT -5
Castiel was deep in thought as he rounded the end of a bookshelf. He had the library practically memorized and didn't need to pay attention to where he was going. It was empty enough during the school year, and he couldn't imagine anyone at all would be here during the summer. Except him.
He couldn't go home for the summer, and he was seriously ticked about it. So Dad would be working long hours and Mother was busy with the new baby. He'd still be in Florida instead of Scotland. He was here all the time.
He stopped short of actually running into the girl. His nose had been in a notebook, rereading the letter he'd stuck there, but he still had peripheral vision.
"I'm sorry," he said, looking up. "I should watch where I'm going." Oh, he noticed how pretty she was, but had decided that if love didn't love him, he didn't love it either. Screw love. He'd just be alone for the rest of his life.
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Post by Diantha Delagardie on Jun 11, 2015 15:36:05 GMT -5
Diantha flicked a glance over at the guy, but didn't relax her eyebrows until she was certain the book she needed wasn't on this shelf, either. She heaved a sigh that would have earned herself a glare from her father, then turned to look at the newcomer. "You didn't hit me, it's okay," she said with just the bare hint of an accent. "Actually, could I ask you? I hate learning my way around new libraries, and I'm to check out Using Formerly Live Ingredients."
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Post by Castiel Catalyst on Jun 11, 2015 16:00:53 GMT -5
Castiel wished he didn't know exactly where the book in question was. However much he'd sworn off love in any form, he'd still have liked to have an excuse to wander around helping her look. No, he didn't need to do that. He was alone and he was wallowing in it.
"It's this way," he said, a hint of resignation in his voice. Stereotypical Ravenclaw. "It's not in Potions like you'd think. It's in the restricted section because there are some ingredients that... aren't really legal. I can get us in, though." He gestured just past the girl, then moved to lead the way.
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Post by Diantha Delagardie on Jun 11, 2015 16:27:40 GMT -5
Diantha raised her eyebrows. "Thank you," she said, taking a moment to look the guy over. They certainly didn't come like that in Sweden. They were all either prim and pristine or into heavy metal. With the screaming and the singing about elves. "This library has a restricted section? Ours never had one." There were books that couldn't be checked out, but they could still at least look at them.
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Post by Castiel Catalyst on Jun 11, 2015 16:38:42 GMT -5
Castiel glanced back over his shoulder at the girl. "Either your school trusted the students more or they didn't have anything good." He raised a hand in light greeting for the librarian and gestured toward the gated-off section behind her desk, then proceeded in, holding the door a moment for...
"I'm sorry, I didn't get your name. I'm Castiel." No point in going for a more impressive introduction.
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Post by Diantha Delagardie on Jun 11, 2015 16:44:59 GMT -5
"Diantha, it's nice to meet you. I've just moved in last week," Diantha said, slipping in the open doorway. "My school wasn't as large as Hogwarts, this library is much bigger. Of course, it seems as though everything is larger here. I'm sure I'll have it mapped out soon enough, though." Her eyes brightened briefly at the prospect of spending as much free time as possible exploring the castle halls.
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Post by Castiel Catalyst on Jun 11, 2015 16:50:15 GMT -5
Castiel fought a brief inner war, wanting to ask where she was from, wanting to learn more so he could see that spark in her eyes again. He had a flickering fantasy involving Diantha and an empty corridor, then a magnificent four-post bed. Then he turned, slightly stiff, and headed toward the potions section. "You'll never get Hogwarts mapped out," he said. "The staircases change and sometimes rooms move. There are doors pretending to be walls, walls pretending to be windows, and a room that turns into whatever it's needed for. Even professors who went to school here don't have it mapped out."
He stopped and slid the book from the shelf, then turned to offer it to her.
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Post by Diantha Delagardie on Jun 11, 2015 16:57:29 GMT -5
"I can bloody well try, can't I?" Diantha asked, her head tilting up slightly. She'd show him you'll never. It seemed like changing rooms and shifting staircases was just a challenge to be beaten. Back home she'd discovered long-forgotten servants' quarters and corridors, though it was smaller. "Thank you," she said then, with an attempt to reign in the defiance that wanted to burst from her eyes, as she took the book.
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Post by Castiel Catalyst on Jun 11, 2015 17:05:36 GMT -5
Castiel blinked at that sudden moment of outrage. "Go ahead and try," he said. "No one's going to stop you and it's not like it wouldn't be fun." He debated shooing her back out to check out the book, but didn't just yet. "Wandering around the castle is like a hobby around here. You can go hours without seeing anyone, but if you want to be alone, it's more likely here." In the library. Not specifically the restricted section. Though he did wonder how long they could be back here before the librarian came in after them...
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Post by Diantha Delagardie on Jun 11, 2015 17:11:34 GMT -5
Diantha's eyes sparked again with a hint of mischief. "Or, just a thought," she said, dropping her voice slightly on the last few words and lingering silently for just a heartbeat longer than strictly necessary. When she spoke again, her voice was back to normal, though her attempt to pull a nonchalant expression on her face wasn't entirely successful. "I could use the disillusionment charm I perfected last year. Then I wouldn't have to worry about anyone." An almost smile announced her silent pride at the accomplishment.
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Post by Castiel Catalyst on Jun 11, 2015 17:17:18 GMT -5
Castiel's brows arched. "Is the rest of your wandwork that good?" he asked. His vow to be alone and miserable for the rest of his life slipped away, as forgotten as though it had never existed. "If it is, I've been looking for people to join a dueling club. So far I'm the only member." Because I kick ass. A little friendly competition would be a relief.
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Post by Diantha Delagardie on Jun 11, 2015 17:28:48 GMT -5
Diantha's eyes dropped slightly, eyeing the cover of the book. "I'm best at charms, but my transifguration isn't bad, either." She liked defense somewhat, but the school had never focused much attention on it. Her gaze shifted up to Castiel as she thought. "I've never done any dueling before. They would really let you do that here?" Back home there wasn't much focus on that kind of thing. Even the muggles had minimal fighters, and everyone knows muggles love a good war or two.
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Post by Castiel Catalyst on Jun 11, 2015 17:34:23 GMT -5
"With a professor around, yes." In theory. It hadn't actually happened yet, sadly. "They've tried a couple times, but most students prefer to just brawl. If you wanted to work on other spells, I could help you out." He wanted to help her out, all right. He kept himself reined in, though. Failure, he reminded himself. Too much of it.
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Post by Diantha Delagardie on Jun 11, 2015 17:44:12 GMT -5
Diantha's eyes brightened again with an almost hungry light. Though sometimes it was pointed out that she underestimated her abilities, she still felt woefully inadequate much of the time. While there were times she wondered that just being the seventh child would be enough, her father had so far been disappointed. "I think that is a nice offer," she said, smiling. "I may have to take you up on it."
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