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Post by Helle Elise Frydenlund on Oct 26, 2018 19:04:55 GMT -5
Helle Elise peeked around the corner of an endlessly tall stack of books, then back behind her before she slipped down the aisle. The library at Hogwarts was someplace you could get lost in if you wanted to, and there were books people had probably forgotten existed. Those were the books she liked most.
She'd found a section of romances she couldn't imagine had any use in classes, but she'd read a few, and she was too old for anyone to check her book bag. She kept it in her room when she wasn't using it anyway.
Yes! Here it was, her guilty pleasure. Only the librarian would know.
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Post by Anastasia Greyson on Oct 26, 2018 19:22:18 GMT -5
Ocean wandered through the library. She always meant to read more. Not that she didn't read often it's just that she was usually doing something else. Whether the something else was writing songs, playing them, spending time with her cat or exploring she never really sat down with a book. Unintentionally of course. Although her classes had been keeping her busy she wanted a quiet way to unwind. Something she could do in the Great Hall maybe. After an incident over the summer involving 'We Will Rock You' on her guitar, as well as the Great Hall during noon, she had learned to keep music in less distracting places. What this place needs is a concert Ocean thought.
Not knowing what kind of book she was in the mood for she found herself in the romance section. Ocean felt herself blush. Although she wasn't one to be embarrassed easily reading romance books was not something she would want broadcast across Hogwarts. She cautiously turned into an aisle.
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Post by Helle Elise Frydenlund on Oct 26, 2018 19:33:40 GMT -5
Helle had a couple books under one arm and another open in her hand when she heard someone. No! The book she held tumbled, and as she tried to catch it the other two began to slip, and rather than hiding them back on the shelf like she'd wanted to, she ended up with one on the floor, one pinned to her leg with a hand, and one pinned between her body and the shelf. The only way to really retrieve it was to let it fall first. She stood in a pile of smut, blushing.
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Post by Anastasia Greyson on Oct 26, 2018 19:49:58 GMT -5
Ocean looked down the aisle and saw a girl standing with a few books. At the sound of Ocean's approach the girl had one book fall to the floor, one held against her leg and other pinned between her body and the shelf. The girl looked as embarrassed as Ocean felt. Ocean observed the girls blush climb as she stood in the pile of books. She reminded Ocean of startled burglar caught in the act of committing a crime. It occurred that possibly the girl was afraid of Ocean thinking that she was doing something wrong with all the romance novels. Looking closer the girl appeared rather young. Not first year young but not old enough to be close to graduation.
Giving a small smile Ocean walked slowly towards the girl as to not scare her further. Holding her hands up she approached the other student, "Easy cowgirl, I'm not going to turn you in for reading." Lowering her hands Ocean gestured to the fallen book "Need some help?"
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Post by Helle Elise Frydenlund on Oct 26, 2018 20:02:48 GMT -5
Cowgirl? Helle flicked a glance at the girl, then shook her head as she dropped the second book and squatted to pick up her mess. "No, I'm okay," she said. Although it had been years since she'd gotten in trouble for being clumsy, she still hated it, still rushed to clean up whatever mess she'd made as quickly and quietly as possible. She didn't stop until the books were back on the shelves, in their proper places.
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Post by Anastasia Greyson on Oct 26, 2018 20:19:53 GMT -5
Ocean watched the girl shake her head and drop her book. Seeming frustrated with herself the girl rushed to clean up the books. With all the novels in their right places on the shelves Ocean felt a slight tinge of sadness at the girls decline for help. Of course she had no right to be upset but the girl appeared to not like Ocean's comment. A brief frown flitted across Ocean's face which was quickly replaced by a smile.
Stepping forward Ocean decided to pull out her charm in an effort to make up for her first impression. "Hey, I'm Ocean" she introduced herself. "I'm a new student from SWIM." Ocean didn't know if the girl knew what SWIM was. "SWIM is a Wizarding School in America." She felt as though she should make a joke to lighten the mood but held back the urge. "Sorry if I startled you, I was just looking for a light read. Do you have any suggestions?"
Good Job Ocean thought to herself Talk about books
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Post by Helle Elise Frydenlund on Oct 26, 2018 20:24:11 GMT -5
"Um, this stuff isn't really light reads," Helle said. "But you really went to SWIM? My foster dad—well, my dad— went to SWIM. Probably not at the same time though. It was a long time ago." And this was why she'd been so quiet around the Society ladies she'd met. Of course, they'd liked her even more because of it.
"Is Ocean really your name?" If so, it was very cool.
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Post by Anastasia Greyson on Oct 26, 2018 20:39:22 GMT -5
Ocean shrugged "I went to SWIM for a while, It was my dad's alma mater so it was important to my mom that I go." Ocean wondered what the girl meant by the books not being light reads. Of course Ocean had never read a romance novel, it was something her mother never let her read. Something mother never let me read... The romance books appeal grew. She didn't ask about the light read part, not wanting to scare the girl off.
"Ocean isn't my real name." She clarified "It's just a really cool nickname." Trying to be funny she tossed her head, moving her bangs out her eyes as she said the last part.
Sticking her hands in her pockets in an attempt to look cool Ocean asked "Who's your dad? Maybe I've heard of him at SWIM."
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Post by Helle Elise Frydenlund on Oct 26, 2018 20:53:24 GMT -5
"Oh, you've heard of him," Helle said. "He's the Transfiguration professor, Dare Blackwood-Hardt." It didn't matter if Ocean read Cauldron, or if this was her first day at Hogwarts, from what Helle understood, people talked about the Blackwood-Hardts on the Hogwarts Express. Even if she'd missed all that, most everyone took Transfiguration, and Dare was hard to miss.
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Post by Anastasia Greyson on Oct 26, 2018 21:04:28 GMT -5
Several things connected in Oceans mind at once. First, the Blackwood-Hardts, then the Transfiguration Professor, and finally that she was talking to that Professors daughter. Although she would never admit it out loud she found the Professor rather intimidating. His ex-death eater husband scared her even more. Standing up a bit straighter and pulling her hands out of her pockets Ocean felt nervous. As though one of the Professors would appear and give her detention for speaking with his daughter. She shifted her weight and felt awkward. Did Professors gossip about their students at home?
Did you hear about that Gryffindor Ocean? Caused a scene in the Great Hall
You mean the one who tried swimming with the Giant Squid over Summer Break?
I'd hate to be her parent...
She definitely did not consider herself Head Girl material, let alone Prefect Material. "Oh?" She meant to sound casual but her nerves betrayed her. Clearing her throat she tried again. "Must be nice having an all time tutor." Rubbing the back of her neck Ocean asked "Your dad doesn't talk about his students does he?"
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Post by Helle Elise Frydenlund on Oct 26, 2018 21:11:29 GMT -5
Helle shrugged. "I don't know, if he does, he probably talks to Father. That'd be Michael. The Defense Professor." Maybe this was why she didn't have a lot of friends. She knew how scary they could be, and she lived with them. She'd seen them in pajamas trying to catch toddlers and dogs.
She smiled after a moment. "Why? What'd you do?"
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Post by Anastasia Greyson on Oct 26, 2018 21:34:25 GMT -5
Ocean wasn't sure she wanted to boast her two detention causing incidents to the daughter of not one but two Professors. However, this did relieve her worry that this girl had heard some sort of dinner time gossip. Better tell her what happened then have someone else tell her and make it sound worse than it really was. Not that either situation resulted in something other than detention.
"Well" Ocean began, looking off to think. I should probably get the Great Hall situation out of the way she thought. "I usually carry my guitar around with me, and one day I brought it to lunch." Ocean recalled sitting down and trying to think of a beat. "I was trying to come up with a beat for a new song I was, and still am writing. I started to tap my feet against the ground and clap. The beat I ended up making was from a song 'We Will Rock You' from a really famous Muggle band." Very quietly Ocean demonstrated a stomp stomp clap
Only doing one, she continued "I got really into it, and I guess a couple other students did to. Even this one kid who looked a little too, I dunno, dramatic? Fancy? To be into Rock music. Anyway, I ended up standing on the bench and playing the song on my guitar. I also sang a bit." Ocean had felt like she was on a broomstick flying, until she saw the teacher. "Unfortunately Hogwarts doesn't appreciate a good performance and I got detention."
Ocean didn't mean to sound so bitter on the last sentence but really, she had been giving those students the Rock they needed. A little lesson in Muggle Studies. Not that the Muggle Studies explanation got her out of detention. Ocean snapped back to the moment. "Oh yeah, I also went swimming with the Giant Squid."
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Post by Helle Elise Frydenlund on Oct 26, 2018 21:41:10 GMT -5
"This is why I keep asking the dads to let me eat in the Great Hall!" Helle had heard about that, but she'd been at home, probably in a dining room full of several different conversations, and probably helping someone cut up food. She loved every single creature who lived in the tower, but she was practically an adult now.
"You went in the lake too? Oh my gosh. Can I be you?"
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Post by Anastasia Greyson on Oct 26, 2018 21:50:15 GMT -5
Ocean laughed good naturedly. "Sure, as long as you don't mind detention and a cat who sheds enough black fur to cover the common room in." Ocean realized she still didn't know this girls name. "Oh my word, I haven't even asked your name yet. I'm so rude, please forgive me." Ocean took a couple steps closer to the girl and held out her hand "What's your name?"
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Post by Helle Elise Frydenlund on Oct 26, 2018 22:01:54 GMT -5
"Oh! Helle Elise." She eyed that hand a moment, and her own jerked slightly as it moved forward. Ocean was really super cool, and hadn't made fun of her, and the least she could do was try to give her a handshake, right? She even tried to smile about it. "It's okay, really," she said.
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