Re: A First Glance

[Charlotte Smith]

Charlotte's nervousness completely disappeared and she grinned broadly, Pyxis had asked to see her artwork and that made her so very happy, art was the one thing she wanted to do for a living, she wanted to make others pleased with her works.

"Of course! Of course you may! I shall go and get a peice right now for you."

With that Charlotte went over to the trunk at the foot of her bed and opened it, the old locks creaking slightly as she did so, opening up the case she dug around the bottom until she found her precious sketchbook, she loved all her artwork so so much, she wouldn't know what shed do if she lost it.

Flicking open the book she presented it to Pyxis with a happy smile, the page open at an intricately sketched forest, only a black and White but then there were watercoloured castles, a sketch of her father, the loose work of the picture Professor Romain commissioned.

"Do you like them? If you wish, you could have the one you like the best, oh Tess, do you want to see too?" Charlotte asked, not wanting to leave her out of the conversation.

[Guest]

Pxyis almost giggled at the delighted expression on Charlotte's face from her simple request, and she watched as the girl rushed off to retrieve her sketchbook, before presenting it to her. "Oh my," Pxyis admired the intricate and delicate black and white drawing of a forest, her eyes bulging out of her head as her mouth fell open with a 'pop'. "Charlotte, these are beautiful!" Pxyis flicked through the pages and couldn't believe her eyes.
These were the most wonderful pictures she'd ever seen. "I've never seen such detail, such talent," Pxyis said in a tone full of wonder. "You have a gift Charlotte, a real gift," Pxyis shook her head and envied the girl of such talent. Pxyis had never been good at anything other than Quidditch, and 1st years weren't allowed such privileges as a broom.
Pxyis turned the pages back to the one of the forest, which was by far her favourite. She sighed wistfully, before looking up at Charlotte with a smile. "These are amazing," she said.

[Charlotte Smith]

Charlotte felt herself getting beyond happy, she was over-joyed with the reaction that she got from Pyxis, she was so nice to her even if she knew that there was a segment of shading that wasn't quite right on the trees but she was glad that she liked them.

Biting her lip Charlotte laughed happily, glad that she liked them, she smiled softly and then had a thought hopefully she would like it.

"Well, thank you! Thank you very much! You may have as many as you want if you'll enjoy them, who knows they might be worth something one day."

Charlotte blinked softly, she couldn't believe that she was tearing up, then again, nobody really commented on her art much, her dad was used to it, her old father and mother thought it wrong and Airen could draw just as well.

"Would...would you like me to draw you?" she asked quietly "Because I would if you wanted me to."

[Corinne Girard]

Corinne was impressed with Tabi's french accent and pronunciation. "Oui, il le fera," Corinne agreed. "We will make a french person out of vou yet, we will," Corinne smirked, before getting up. "I shall take to you later, Tabi." Corinne said, before shooting a glare at the three other girls and exiting the dorm with her head held high but a lot on her mind.

[Guest]

Pxyis felt a soft smile come onto her face at how happy Charlotte was with her reaction, but when Charlotte offered it was Pxyis' turn to grin, before Charlotte's expression suddenly became thoughtful and she offered to draw Pxyis.
"I'd love you to draw me!" Pxyis squealed and clapped her hands excitedly. She was sure that the picture would be perfect if Charlotte was the one to draw it. "Oh would you Charlotte? That would make me so happy, to have myself drawn by such a brilliant artist," Pxyis knew she was gushing and being a major ego-booster to Charlotte, but she couldn't help it, the idea was just so brilliant and exciting.
Pxyis was so excited that she didn't even notice Corinne leave.

[Charlotte Smith]

Charlotte withered internally under the gaze of Corrine and felt herself withdraw back into her shell, shutting her sketchbook carefully and even though the girl obviously didn't like her, smiled after her as friendly a smile as she could, she really didn't want any trouble.

Biting her lip she felt a downer on her mood and gestured in the air with her sketchbook vaguely.

"Of course I'd love to draw you Pyxis, I'm even trying to get hold of some of that stuff, that you put in with the paint to enchant it to move."

With a small smile Charlottes old insecurities came flooding back into her mind and she smiled, nervously at all the girls, as if she was going to be under some sort of attack because of what had just happened, she didn't even really know why.

"I just hope, I hope that it'll be good enough for you, I would draw all of you, if you wanted." with a final small fleeting smile Charlotte went back to playing with her pastels.

[Tess McCartney]

To say the least she felt uncomfortable. Ever since they clicked, that is Charlotte to Pxyis and Tabi to Corinne, she felt herself thinking that she needed to get out of here. She figured no one would even pay attention to her, as usual, she she got up and looked at her bed once more before slipping out of the room.

She didn't think she'd be having too much peace here, so she figured, she'd flee as soon as possible.

"Excuse me" she whispered as she closed the door behind her.

[Charlotte Smith]

Charlotte looked at Tess as she got up and she felt a small pang in her chest, she knew that they had sort of been ignoring her and she felt terrible, motioning to Pyxis that she would be right back Charlotte left her pastles on the bed and hurried after Tess.

Looking down to where she might have gone Charlotte tapped her lightly on the armnot knowing really what to say or do except what she really felt.

"I'm sorry, I think I sort of ignored you there and that was wrong of me, I hope you'll forgive me, I'll...I'll see you around."

Charlotte smiled, sadly, not liking the idea she had upset somebody and returned back to the common room to sit next to Pyxis once more, with the same nervous smile on her face. Then there were three she thought.

"Well, let's change the subject, what do you guys do as hobbies?"

[Tess McCartney]

She was surprised and nearly jumped in surprise that someone was behind her. That is until she noticed it was Charlotte. Seeing her expression, she let out a polite smile, she honestly didn't need pity nor want it, but she understood what she could and simply smiled.

"It's fine...I'm used to it" she said shrugging. "But don't think that I am sad or anything, and I forgive you...I just might need to get away from the-the green from around here"

She meant a lot of things, but specifically her dorm, she might need a new spot to relax.

"I'll see you around" she said politely and gripped the spine of her book tighter before running upstairs towards the dungeons.

[Guest]

Tabi nodded to Corinne as she left and glanced around the room.

"Well that was very interesting." Tabi thought out loud and then she noticed that Tess was leaving

"Come on Tess don't check out on us just yet, got give each of us a chance to know some people. You know what they say, keep you friends close and your enemies closer." Tabi said not really thinking that anyone was her enemy at the moment.

"This is Slytherin house and if you were raised around nothing but Slytherins your whole life you learn how to play your cards." Tabi stated plainly

As Tabi made it to go back to her bed she heard Charlotte,

"Well, let's change the subject, what do you guys do as hobbies?"

Tabi had to think about it. "Well one of my main hobbies is I love to fly,and if you can't find me flying then you will probably find me curled up in the library with a book." Tabi smiled as she thought about it, she couldn't wait to discover the library here.

[Guest]

Pxyis was confused by Charlotte's sudden dampened spirit. "Of course I'd love to draw you Pyxis, I'm even trying to get hold of some of that stuff, that you put in with the paint to enchant it to move."Charlotte told her, and Pxyis smiled. She'd always wanted to be able to draw moving paintings, it seemed like such fun to watch your pictures come to life.

"That sounds wonderful," said Pxyis, still puzzling over Charlotte's shyness returning.
"I just hope, I hope that it'll be good enough for you, I would draw all of you, if you wanted."
Charlotte voiced the insecurities she clearly felt inside, and Pxyis frowned, wondering why Charlotte had become so... withdrawn.

Tess very abruptly got up and left the room. Pxyis went to call 'Goodbye' to her, but she had already vanished. "What was that all about?" Pxyis muttered. Charlotte excused herself with a wave of her hand, and Pxyis nodded as she dashed out of the room after Tess. Pxyis also wondered why Tess had disappeared. Perhaps, thought Pxyis, she felt left out? Pxyis decided that next time she saw Tess she'd apologised for how rude she'd been by ignoring her to talk to Charlotte.

Pxyis felt the bed dip as Charlotte sat back down next to her again with a nervous smile. Pxyis was about to comment on it, when Charlotte began talking again. "Well, let's change the subject, what do you guys do as hobbies?" Charlotte asked.

Pxyis listened to Tabi and smiled warmly. "My hobby is also quidditch, but I do enjoy reading Quidditch Through The Ages, oh and Hogwarts: A History. Those books are fascinating. Did you know that the Golden Snitch was actually a replacement for the Golden Snidget, which was a bird that was used to catch, and when the bird was killed the game was over! But they stopped that because the bird was slowly becoming extinct, so it's not a protected species," Pxyis gushed, before clapping a hand to her mouth. "Oh im so sorry, I was rambling again." Pxyis blushed.

[Guest]

Tabi could not help but laugh listening to Pxyis ramble on and on..She seemed like she was the type of girl who knew everything.

"I like you misunderstand Pxyis, I do not like Quidditch to play, although I do not mind watching a good game once in awhile. As long as its Puddlemore. Anyway I just love to fly without the need to accomplish anything." Tabi smiled as she thought of the last time she just got to fly for the sake of flying.

"I will admit that I have read Hogwarts: A history a few times." Tabi thought about it not that she spouted out all the interesting things she had read in there.

"So what else do you like..any special guys in the picture?"

[Guest]

Pxyis laughed at Tabi's comment that she doesn't particularly enjoy quidditch. "Ah, but you see I also enjoy to fly with no major goal," Pxyis responded instantly.

At the words 'any special guy in the picture' Pxyis blushed scarlet and dropped her eyes down to her lap where her hands were wringed together, and her wavy blonde hair fell in front of her cheeks to hide the blush from prying eyes. "No!" Pxyis thought her voice sounded far too high pitched, so she cleared her throat and shook her head. "Nope, none." Much better, she thought.

"And yourself?" Pxyis turned the question back to Tabi.

[Guest]

Tabi thought by the way Pxyis answered things seemed a little off but she let it slide for now.

"As for me it all depends on the day. I mean my parents have me destined to be with this guy Damien, but please I am only 11 how can they possible know that's what I want out of life. I have to play the field for now." Tabi grinned

"Maybe the two of us will just have to take a fly together sometime"

[Guest]

Pxyis was thoughtful at Tabi's comment about her parents wanting her to be with this Damian kid, and though she was thinking it, she did not point out that in the end, Tabi probably wouldn't have a choice. Arranged marriages were still a common thing among the pure-blood families, and Pxyis was suspicious of her parents at the moment, but she decided to push that thought away and return her gaze to Tabi.

"Oh yes, i'd love to have someone to fly with. I don't have any siblings, you see, and my father rarely has time to fly with me anymore. It's very lonely up there, sometimes," said Pxyis, before turning her head slightly to Charlotte. "Do you fly, Charlotte?" She asked.

[Charlotte Smith]

Charlotte smiled as the two girls began to talk, it gave her time to get her head back in order after that little encounter with Corrine, of course she knew exactly what to do if she did give her or anyone any trouble, another benefit of having your dad and uncle in the school.

As talk of flying emerged Charlotte bit her lip, she had never flown before, and a part of her was still vaguely scared of it, she disliked heights after all.

"Well, ive never seen Quidditch being played, but I assume that it's rather exciting to watch, I don't think I would like one of those matches that go on for days though."

With a small smile Charlotte shook her head, she had a small crush but, it was never going to happen, she knew that, so she didn't really entertain the idea much any more, besides she hadn't spoke to him in a few weeks...

"Nobody really for me."

At Pyxis' question Charlotte shook her head: "I've never flown before no, and I'm a little afraid to if I'm honest."

[Guest]

"I've never flown before no, and I'm a little afraid to if I'm honest."Charlotte said, causing Pxyis' mouth to drop open in shock. "You've never flown before? Why not?" Pxyis exclaimed. "Oh you must fly! You should come back to our manor for the holiday's, i'll teach you to fly!" Pxyis' eyes glazed over as a dreamy smile appeared on her face. "Oh its the most wonderful feeling in the world, its like your completely free to do as you wish, like your one with the wind and nature. You simply must fly, Charlotte," Pxyis' gaze came back into focus and she fixed it on Charlotte.

"You don't watch much Quidditch? Well, I recommend you read this, hang on," Pxyis dug through her trunk and located the purple book with the label 'Quidditch Through The Ages' across the top, and she handed it to Charlotte. "I've read it so many times, don't worry about losing my page," said Pyxis, dropping back down onto the bed beside Charlotte and looking at her expectantly.

[Charlotte Smith]

Charlotte chuckled slightly at the expression on Pyxis' face as she said that she had never flown before, she didn't think it was that big a deal, because her reasons -to her- made perfect sense and at the invitation to come to her house to fly, Charlotte smiled widely.

"Really? You would allow me to your home? That would be lovely, although you'll have to go gentle on me I'll probably feel very nervous about getting up there, I'm not too keen on heights after all."

With a grin Charlotte looked on as Pyxis got a book, one that she presumed was about Quidditch and she smiled softly, taking it gently from her as she hands it to her, knowing that books are precious to a number of people she vowed to be careful with it.

"I shall read it in time for the holidays, I promise, although I might not remember it all. You've read it more than once?" Charlotte asked with a surprised expression "That must mean that it's good! I'll start it tonight I think."

Getting up and placing it on her bed Charlotte lay down on her crumpled covers and kicked her legs up in the air.

[Guest]

Pxyis and Charlotte was so engulfed in the conversation that they didn't notice Tabi step out for a moment. She got to worrying about the way Corrine left so she went to check on her, but then it seemed that Tess had it under control and that Tabi was just in the way. After she got the cold shoulder she just decided to go back to the dorm room and see what they were still up too.

Tabi walked into the conversation long enough to hear Charlotte talking about learning to fly, and then Pxyis offering her house over the holidays.

"Just wait Charlotte once you get over your fear of flying you will discover it is a beautiful thing. Maybe then the three of us can fly out over the Black Lake it was beautiful. I was out there earlier, but I saw someone I wished to avoid so I went elsewhere." With that comment Tabi looked over at Charlotte

"I noticed you made a new friend today out by the black lake?"

[Guest]

Pxyis laughed at Charlotte's words. "Of course i'd allow you into my home! We're friends, after all. Oh and don't worry, I was dead scared of heights until I flew. I'll help you, of course," Pxyis said eagerly, already planning an owl home to her mother and father.

Once she had given Charlotte the book, she nodded her head at her next question. "Oh yes, this is one of my favourite books. Quidditch is just fascinating!" Pxyis beamed at Charlotte. "And while your over, you must bring your sketchbook and show mother your paintings.

Pxyis had been so engrossed in their conversation that she jumped when Tabi spoke, and realised she had yet again been excluding someone to talk too Charlotte.

"Yes, we should fly together, that is next year. I hate that first years aren't allowed brooms, its outrageous!" Pxyis said, grinning and when Tabi directed a question at Charlotte, Pxyis leant back against the headrest of her bed and listened.

[Charlotte Smith]

Charlotte smiled happily, it seemed as if she was actually going to be making some sort of friends here and she was glad of that fact, she wondered what it would be like here if she was only going to be relying on Airen alone...and then she didn't want to think about it.

Overjoyed that she was going to be allowed to visit Pyxis Charlotte grinned happily:

"That's wonderful! Oh I've never been to somebody else's house before! Except Professor Smith's of course." when she was told to bring her sketchbook too Charlotte beamed "Of course I will! I'll bring a big portrait too, as a thank you for letting me stay!"

Glad that flying seemed to be something that was enjoyable, rather than damning, Charlotte was slowly warming to the idea that it might be a good idea to learn to fly, it might come in handy later on in life or just for fun.

"I think I would like that very much, it would be nice to go flying together, I think I might have to go in the middle though in case I do something stupid and smash into a tree, which I can see happening."

Charlotte, not quite sure what Tabi meant when she said she saw someone that she didn't want to out by the lake, she thought that it was probably someone else, but, then she thought about her sister, could it be her?

"Oh yes, yes I did. She's very nice. I think she's your sister in fact." she smiled happily

[Guest]

Pxyis grinned at Charlotte saying she'd bring a big portrait and laugh. "Mother will be delighted," Pxyis said with a grin, excited about Charlotte coming over.

She wondered who it was that Tabi had seen that she had wished not too, and was as too the fact that Tabi had a sister. "You have a sister? How nice. I don't have any siblings," Pxyis said with an over-dramatic sigh. "Im all alone in my big mansion," she grinned. Pxyis went to inquire who it was that Tabi had seen, when there was a tapping sound on the door. Pxyis got up and went over to it, throwing it open to be hit in the face by her mother's owl - Tweetums.

The owl flew right back up and over to her bed, ruffling its feather's and Pxyis followed after it, muttering "Bloody owl," as she went. She took the letter off of its leg and received a nip on her finger from it. "Ouch! Bugger off!" She flicked her hand at the barn owl, and it took off back out into the common room and to higher ground so it could leave through window.

"Why can't he come when its time to receive the mail at breakfast?" Pxyis asked in exasperation, sitting back down on her bed and opening the letter from her mother.

Darling Pxyis,

How is Hogwart's? Are you settling in nicely? What house are you in? Have you made any friends yet? Isn't Tweetums just a darling, he's been wonderful lately, very cuddly and sweet. Did you give him any treats? I shall be most disappointed if you don't. Write back soon darling, your father and I are anxious to hear all about Hogwart's,

Love,
Mother.

Pxyis rolled her eyes. "Darling? That birds a devil," Pxyis grumbled, retrieving some parchment, her quill and her ink from her bedside table and writing back a response.

Mother,

Hogwart's is fine. It's really nice here. Yes, i've settled in fine, im in Slytherin and i've met some very nice girls. Tabi, Tess & Charlotte. They're all really sweet, mother, and I invited Charlotte over for the holidays to do some flying with me. Tweetums is a horrific bird to me mother, you know that. He always has been, and i'd never give him a treat, even if my life depended on it. He even took off before I could give a letter back, so i'll have to borrow an owl from the owlery.

Pxyis.

"So sorry about that," Pxyis said as she put away her stuff and folded up the parchment before placing it on the bedside table. She made a kissy sound with her lips, and a little half-kneazle dashed into the dorm, its white tail with a black tip up in the air. It was like a little ball of fluff, and it leapt up into Pxyis' lap. Pxyis' love of cuddling anything fluffy kicked in and she wrapped her arms around the cat, squeezing it tight before allowing it to get comfortable in her lap as she stroked it.

[Charlotte Smith]

Charlotte smiled at Pyxis, she too was alone for a long time in a large house, she didn't have any siblings, or at least she didn't think she did, she could have some in France that she didn't know about, but she didn't think so. Her mother wasn't really the maternal type.

"I am an only child too, sometimes I'm a little conflicted, it would be nice to have siblings but then again, sometimes they can be a right pain I'm sure."

Unable to stop a little giggle as the owl came in and attacked Pyxis, Charlotte watched as it delivered a letter to her, deciding not to pry she turned away and wondered where exactly Hannibal had gotten to.

Deciding that it would be best to call him, Charlotte went to her trunk and got out a small wooden whistle, blowing on it she placed it back in her trunk and waited.

"Don't worry about it, do you guys mind if I bring in my pet? He might you know...get a little nippy."

But before she could finish a large tap came from the window and there was Hannibal, a rather large Vulture, rushing over to open the window Hannibal flew in and settled on Charlotte's shoulder with an affectionate coo.

"This is Hannibal, he's my vulture."

[Guest]

"I am an only child too, sometimes I'm a little conflicted, it would be nice to have siblings but then again, sometimes they can be a right pain I'm sure." Charlotte said, making Pxyis laugh and nod her head in complete agreement. "It would be nice to have someone to spend time with though," Pxyis said thoughtfully.

Pxyis was confused as Charlotte pulled a whistle out of her trunk and blew into it, making a strange sound that hurt her ears.

"Don't worry about it, do you guys mind if I bring in my pet? He might you know...get a little nippy." Charlotte asked, and Pxyis went to respond when she was interrupted by a large tapping on the window. Charlotte rushed over and let a huge bird in. The bird immediatley settled itself on Charlotte's shoulder, and Pxyis recognised it as a vulture.

She felt her half-kneazle, Leilani, tense up under her hand and heard a hiss escape the kittens lips as Charlotte introduced her vulture as Hannibal. Pxyis was fascinated, she'd never known or heard of someone having a vulture as a pet. She had always thought of vulture's as hideous, but seeing that one perched on Charlotte's shoulder in an affectionate way made her change her mind.

Soothingly scratching behind Leilani's ears, she smiled at Charlotte. "What an interesting creature to have as a pet. Quite cute, too," said Pxyis. Leilani growled again and began to spit, making Pxyis hit her on the top of the head lightly. "You stop that now, Lani," and with her kitten being half-kneazle, meaning she was an intelligent cat, she understood and stopped, staring up at Pxyis as if to say 'What? Why!'.

"Sorry about her, she loves to play with birds. This is Leilani, she's a half-kneazle," Pxyis tickled Leilani under the chin, placing a kiss on the top of her head as the kitten settled down again and let her eyes droop sleepily.

"How long have you had Hannibal?" Pxyis asked.

[Charlotte Smith]

Charlotte noticed that Pyxis' cat seemed to be getting a little hey up about the presence of Hannibal so she moved him away with her to sit on her bed with her, biting her lip she stroked the top of his bald head affectionately.

Secretly she was glad that he wasn't here when Corrine was, after all, he would have gone for her in an instant. It wouldn't have been pretty.

"Hannibal. Behave."

Tapping him on the beak Charlotte turned her attention to Pyxis, so her cat was half kneazel? She had never seen one of those before and she looked at her intently, it was a nice name too, much nicer than Hannibal.

"That's the first time somebody has called him cute before, you like him then? Do you wish to hold him or should I keep him away from Leilani?"

Not wanting the two pets to fight Charlotte smiles when Pyxis says that Leilani likes to play with birds, she didn't think that it would be very good to have her play with Hannibal.

"I've had him for years. He just sort of turned up one day and didn't leave, so I kept him, how old is Leilani?"

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