Art Gallery (open)

by **Humphrey Williams** Thu May 17, 2012 8:05 am

One of the things that Humphrey Williams used to do at Hogwarts was spend time in the abandoned tower drawing. It was an unusual thing to do, but his friend Charlotte got him interested in art. He came up here one day to find some space to be alone, and there she was just sitting there painting. They became good friends, and for a little while Charlotte had taught him how to draw, paint, sketch, basic things like that. Over time he came to love it and he had been practicing ever since.

He had brought a suitcase up with him. It was hard work lugging it up the flight of stairs to the tower, but well worth it. This abandoned tower had an excellent view of the surrounding landscape as well as unique lighting to it. The view of the school lake from here was absolutely breathtaking. Today, he was going to unload the art he had been working on and set it up. As well as taking out a few empty canvases to work on.

While his uncle was dying from cancer Humphrey had a lot of free time. Subsequently, he had developed the habit of going on walks or hikes in the area and painting, drawing, sketching, and once even attempting to sculpt something that caught his attention. Deciding to arrange them; he set them up with landscapes on one side, buildings in the middle, and sky on another. The skies were mainly of sunsets and sunrises, but once or twice he had tried to capture part of a thunderstorm.

Taking a step back and examining his work, he noticed something very unusual. The paintings he had done closer to his uncle's death were more depressing than the others. They overall had a darker feel to them, and some of the things he drew were just outright depressing. Oddly though, many of those were his favorite. Those paintings had more meaning in them, which made them that much more beautiful.

His favorite of all of them was of a wounded deer he had seen. He had been on a hike on one of the trails and stopped by an outcropping of rock to paint the surrounding area. While he was on it, a startled deer with a broken leg came out into a clearing that was some distance below him. It was a good distance away but he had an unobstructed view of the large buck. Humphrey had painted it; surprisingly, it turned out to be slightly different than the buck in reality.

At some point while he was painting, he had without knowing he was doing it painted the buck in the same meadow but what he would have imagined it as by moonlight. The result was a silvery light around the buck that highlighted and cast beautiful shadows on and around it with the woods behind it providing a slight silhouette. He loved it, and he had improved immensely from when he began.

by **Tess McCartney** Thu May 17, 2012 11:32 am

With her school books thrown on her bed and her uniform discarded Tess was ready to do some exploring. She was now wearing a pair of shorts and a jumper considering spring made everything a bit less cold. Walking around, she found herself looking at the towers from below.

It was funny to her how she'd explored nearly every crevice of the whole castle except all of the towers. She'd been to the Prison Tower once, and last time she'd found Haley trapped in there calling out for help.

She let out a small giggle and decided to try again, but now to the Abandoned Tower; who knew what fate was throwing at her next. Climbing the stairs she found herself getting a bit out of breath, it seemed that the stairs were endless, but she found it to be a work out of itself and immediately she sensed relief as she reached the top.

Walking in, she popped her head in curiously. No real noise, her shoes were the only noise and she called out a soft.

"Hello, anyone out there?"

by **Humphrey Williams** Thu May 17, 2012 11:39 am

Just as he was finishing up placing his work in a corner close to one of the windows he heard footsteps. Odd, somebody was coming up to the abandoned tower. It wasn't one of the more popular places at Hogwarts, and he wondered who it was. His question was answered when he saw a slytherin girl in his year walk in. It was Tess, and they had always gotten along well. He heard her ask if anyone was there and decided he should announce he was. "Over here, Tess!" he yelled a bit. "What are you doing up here? I've never seen you in here before."

by **Tess McCartney** Thu May 17, 2012 12:00 pm

Tess jumped in surprise not expecting anyone to be up there. But seeing Humphrey she smiled softly and walked towards him. She realized that she hadn't seen him for a while, and wondered what had changed, she'd rather not dwell on that and simply admired the surroundings.

Seeing his paintings her breath was taken away by the sheer beauty. Her eyes trailed from one painting to another gobsmacked.

"Did you do those?"

by **Humphrey Williams** Thu May 17, 2012 12:06 pm

Tess walked towards him, and he felt nervous. The only person he had ever showed his work before was Charlotte. She had been the one who helped teach him how to draw and paint. Having somebody else look at them was new for him. He watched as she looked around the abandoned tower, and then her pause as she looked at his paintings.

"Did you do those?"

"Ummm, yeah. I know they're not very good. But, I've found that it calms my thoughts, and is just a comforting thing to do for me. So, what do you think of them? If you don't mind my asking, I've never showed anybody except for one person my work before. And nobody has seen these ones before but me. Don't lie either, I want your honest opinion Tess." he said, letting a smile creep across his face.

"And on a different topic, how are you Tess? I haven't seen you in forever. It almost feels weird being back here at Hogwarts after so long." Humphrey told her.

by **Tess McCartney** Thu May 17, 2012 12:18 pm

Tess smiled softly and she was amazed by the emotions behind them. She walked closer and looked at them impressed.

"They're beautiful" she said breathlessly.

She never had the artistic talent to actually paint. Writing and poetry was more of her thing, but sketching, painting was just marvelous and something she envied and admired.

"You really have talent" she said smiling.

At his outgoing-ness, she grinned.

" I've been pretty, good, can't really complain" she replied shrugging. "Why were you gone?"

by **Humphrey Williams** Thu May 17, 2012 12:29 pm

Humphrey couldn't help blushing a little bit at the compliment. He couldn't say exactly why it embarrassed him, but it did just a bit. Honestly he didn't think they were very good. "Thanks Tess. Really, I mean, to be honest, I never thought I did a very good job. But, if you like them then maybe they aren't as bad as I thought. Charlotte should get some credit though, she started teaching me first year. I've just been working on what she said since then."

"Well, my uncle Billy, who I've been living with for five years, just died of cancer. He was diagnosed last year, and my aunt Julie wanted me to be there to help keep things as good as possible while he fought it. He lasted almost a year, but he couldn't beat it."

by **Tess McCartney** Thu May 17, 2012 12:34 pm

Tess frowned and felt bad for his misfortune. She bit her bottom lip and placed her hand on his shoulder in a comforting manner.

"I'm so sorry to hear that, it must have hurt you greatly" she said softly as she looked towards his darker paintings.

Different emotions were clear in the paintings from simple sketches to darker artistic ones. She felt for him, death was never something simple to deal with.

"But he would have loved them I bet" she murmured.

by **Humphrey Williams** Thu May 17, 2012 12:50 pm

He tensed a bit as Tess walked and put her hand on his shoulder. Humphrey could tell she genuinely felt sorry for him. "Yea, it did. You don't realize always how important somebody is to you until they aren't there. He was like a father to me in a lot of ways, and since my real parents are dead. Well, all I have left is my aunt Julie. And my Hogwarts friends I suppose." he told her in a quiet voice.

"Well, I don't know about that. But I never showed him so I'll never know. Thanks, Tess. I've been needing somebody to talk to. I've been pretty lonely." He tried to get control of his emotions, and attempted a smile that turned out as more of a twitch.

by **Tess McCartney** Thu May 17, 2012 5:42 pm

She nodded softly. She felt so bad about him, and the misfortune, she was lucky to not have lost any of her parents, but rather have them neglect her. She bit her bottom lip softly and tried to figure out what to say.

His tenseness made her move her hand from him and clasped her fingers together keeping to herself in a protective manner. Perhaps she pushed too forward, but that was how she was, if something tugged at her heartstrings, well her emotions took over.

"You don't have to be lonely you know" she said softly. "That's what friends are for."

by **Humphrey Williams** Thu May 17, 2012 5:55 pm

As Tess withdrew her hand he looked up at her. Then she told him he didn't have to be lonely, and he smiled at her, a real one. "I know I don't have to be lonely any longer. It is just I was at at my aunt and uncle's. But now, well now I have you to look after me. Thanks for being my friend Tess. And, just so you know, I didn't mind your hand on my shoulder. I was tense because of what I was saying, not the contact." Humphrey explained to her.

"So Tess, have you read any good books lately?" he asked her. He knew what the answer would be: yes. But, he was curious as to what she had read. She normally read great books.

by **Tess McCartney** Thu May 17, 2012 6:09 pm

Tess matched his grin, and she laughed softly at the comment of her taking care of him. She admittedly missed her friend, as frantic and random as he was, he was a good person and she was glad he was at least smiling.

"No problem Humphrey, that's what friends of for" she said winking "and I'll take care of you no worries, I'll stop you from doing something stupid"

She grinned good naturedly and at the mention of books she shrugged.

"Oh you know, more Shakespeare, 'Much Ado About Nothing'..I've currently began to read some more muggle literature and all."

by **Humphrey Williams** Thu May 17, 2012 6:17 pm

"Keep me from doing something stupid? What are you implying? That I am stupid. I am, but it is impossible to stop me from doing stupid things. It is an ingrained habit. Part of my dna." he told her with a wink.

"Shakespeare, why am I not surprised. Tell you what, meet me in the library sometime, and we can both pick out a book for the other to read. Deal?" he asked her.

by **Tess McCartney** Thu May 17, 2012 6:32 pm

Tess began to laugh at his comment and shook her head, at least his sense of humor was still intact. She always found that amusing.

"It really is isn't it?" she commented.

At the mention of him choosing a book for her she wrinkled her nose but let out an exaggerated sigh.

"Fine fine Mr. Williams if we must" she replied keeping back a grin.

by **Humphrey Williams** Thu May 17, 2012 6:35 pm

"I insist Miss McCartney. Your taste in books is excellent, and I am in the mood to read something that you like. And don't wrinkle your nose at me. It might get stuck that way you know." Humphrey told her, grinning back at her.

"To the library! Where learning takes place and imaginations soar!" he bellowed down the stairs.

by **Tess McCartney** Thu May 17, 2012 6:52 pm

Tess couldn't believe how spastic he was being and she started laughing as he walked away from her.

"Hey what about your art...wait for me!" she cried out.

With one last look to the paintings, she ran after him her shoes clicking as she rushed to follow him a grin of amusement displayed clearly on her face.

by **Humphrey Williams** Thu May 17, 2012 7:00 pm

"What about my art Tess? Did you want to look at it longer or something?" he asked her. Humphrey put on the brakes and Tess caught up to him.

For some reason Tess looked amused by something. "What is so funny Tess? You look like you are about to burtst out laughing. Is it my hair? Did I forget to comb it when I get out of bed this morning?" he asked, running his hands through his hair and messing it up.

by **Tess McCartney** Thu May 17, 2012 7:09 pm

Tess rolle her eyes at the mention of his personal grooming and shook her head. Honesty boys were all the same, always thinking about their looks.

"No you dork" she said rolling her eyes "Dont you hide them or something? Or do you just leave them there?"

She slapped his hands from his hair softy and chuckled.

"Your hair looks fine but you're making it worse stop touching it"

by **Keiba Namid** Thu May 17, 2012 8:37 pm

Keiba trudged up the stairs after her encounter with Humphrey. She was very glad he was back, but she still resented how he'd forgotten to write to his best friend. She felt slightly guilty about not consoling him about his uncle, but she thought he'd been playing the sympathy card there.

She reached the end of the staircase and raised her hand to knock on the door when it flung open and Humphrey bellowed something about the library in her face. Keiba blinked rapidly for a moment and then raised an eyebrow at Humphrey. "You're very strange, Humphrey. Please refrain from deafening me again!" A smile tugged on Keiba's pursed lips.

Peering past him, she caught a glimpse of some things on display and figured these must be his artworks. She noticed Tess was there and grinned in greeting.

by **Humphrey Williams** Thu May 17, 2012 10:08 pm

"So now I am a dork Tess?" he asked her. "That is a bit mean." Humphrey told her pretending to take offense. "Well, I normally would, but I am going to come back up to get them in a little while. For now, I was just going to leave them there. They should be fine Tess." he said.

Laughing at her as she said he was making his hair worse, he stepped out of her reach. "I know that, Tess. I was just being silly." Then he actually straightened his hair with a comb from his pocket. "There, all better." Then, as he turned back around to go down the steps he noticed Keiba.

"Oh. Hi, Keiba. Sorry, I didn't know you were there until you spoke up. I was just showing Tess my paintings. Do you want to see them?" Humphrey asked her.

by **Keiba Namid** Thu May 17, 2012 10:15 pm

Keiba shook her head at the crazy Gryffindor who carried comes around in his pocket. She grinned. "Well that's the whole reason I'm here!" she announced. "Unless you'd rather me not see them?"

by **Humphrey Williams** Thu May 17, 2012 10:51 pm

"Don't look at me like that. Other guys carry combs around with them too. Besides, it is a habit I got from my dad. He used to do that all the time before, well you know about that already." Humphrey said.

"Alright then Keiba come on in. Tess, I'll meet you in the library later, okay?" he said to her as he walked back into the abandoned tower. "Of course you can see them, why would I hide my paintings from you Keiba?" he asked her.

by **Tess McCartney** Fri May 18, 2012 4:18 am

Tess smiled seeing Keiba, she didn't know the girl very well, but what she did know was that she was known for her energy.

"Sure I'll see you later, by Humphrey, Keiba" she said and walked off, wondering if she'd be able to drag Victoria towards her common room, which was dark enough so they could chat a bit more. At that thought she smiled and rushed off all the more.

by **Humphrey Williams** Fri May 18, 2012 4:47 am

"Alright, goodbye Tess. Start thinking of a good book for me to read okay? If it is anything less than an excellent read I will be very disappointed. I think I have the perfect book for you to read, if I'm right you should enjoy it." Humphrey told Tess. He waved goodbye to her and then looked back at Keiba.

"You know, we really need to get a book club or something going at Hogwarts. It would be so much fun Keiba." he said, looking at her to see what her response would be.

by **Keiba Namid** Fri May 18, 2012 11:29 am

Keiba internally shook her head at Humphrey. He was so very pushy. She waved back to Tess as she left, and didn't have a chance to say that Tess could say if she wanted to, but then figured if she was already leaving what was the point?

"Normal guys don't carry combs around with them," she shot back, stepping past him into the room. Keiba's eyes trailed over the paintings and sketches, and she figured she liked the sketches better.

Keiba shrugged, not looking at Humphrey, but instead at a sketch of a swallow. It was really nice. "It depends. Book clubs are a good idea, but I think books are more just for leisure. I really don't enjoy picking them apart," she said, a frown creasing her face.

She looked back up at Humphrey and smiled softly, but it turned out as more of a grimace than anything. "You're really good, you know," she said, gesturing with her head to the artwork around them. "I didn't know you could paint."