Odd Ones Out: Part 1
There is always a point during the semester when a student finds themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place. Faced with decisions and an overwhelming sense of anxiety that seems to follow them around wherever they go. Unless of course, they’re on top of everything and aren’t cramming for tests at the last minute and staying up to the early hours of the morning trying to finish assignments, which Lysander was. He had very few time-management skills.
Today, for instance, instead of working on his Potions paper, he was lying down on a bench in the courtyard, staring up at the sky. His books and things were beside him on the ground, papers rustling at the slight breeze. It was cold out now, and Lysander was anxiously awaiting snow.
He closed his eyes for a while, trying to drone out everyone around him who seemed to - like him - be taking advantage of the fact that it wasn’t raining, and therefore were spending their Saturday outside.
When it became too noisy and busy around him, Lysander groaned and sat up, gathering his things and standing. He shoved his things back into his bag, turned to head back inside the castle, when a fourth year student bumped into him causing Lysander to trip and fall against a girl that was nearby.
Upon hitting the ground, Lysander’s things sprawled out from his bag and all across the ground. He sighed and began grabbing his things quickly before they could blow away when he realized he should apologize to the girl he had bumped into.
“I’m sorry.” he said, looking up at her. “I’d say I’m not usually this clumsy, but I’d be lying."
She can feel it in her bones, as the wind sends a cool chill down the back of her neck. Winter is just around the corner, a small child peering out from behind the hem of Autumn’s skirt, slowly preparing to show himself. Winter had always been Valeria’s favourite season. Maybe it is because of Christmas, a time when she feels as if somebody actually gives a care about her in the world. Maybe it is the snow, a type of magic all in its own, each speck of snowflake bearing its own individual and unique qualities. Or perhaps both. Why she particularly enjoys wintertime, she does not know. All she does know, though, is the juxtaposition that winter - the coolest of all seasons - makes her heart feel its warmest.
Lost in her thoughts, Valeria’s senses jerk back to reality as a body - tall and lean - bumps into her own. Evaluating the situation, she finds that she has two choices: one, to help the person - a wizard, she notices - retrieve his belongings that have been scattered across the floor; and two, to leave him and walk on by impassively, going back to minding her own business. While her head is holding a small debate, she vaguely hears the boy apologize. Valeria chooses the latter.
"Oh, don’t worry about it.”
She picks up a set of papers by her foot and, without staring too long at its content, hands it back to the boy. Looking at him, she is reminded of her older brother. The boy, she recognizes, is Lysander Rathborne, a 7th year Slytherin and fellow academic. Getting to know him better will be beneficial in my studies. Especially if I get on his good side. With this thought in mind, Valeria decides to converse.
“So… I see that you’re into Potions as well,” she says, indicating the papers she had just handed back to him. “I couldn’t help but notice.”
