Jordyn adored Fridays.  Yes, it did not mean they didn't have Saturday courses, but Friday just seemed like such a definitive end, and now that she had completely figured out her Halloween costume for the upcoming weeks she felt like the only things she had to worry about were logistic - things that she could most assuredly deal with: classes and tests. 

Those were normal things - things balanced and understood.  Jordyn liked those things best.  They didn't require finesse, just knowledge.  Thoug she had skills to navigate socially, it did get exhausting. 

Being in her place was difficult, not that most people knew it.  Jordyn used an incredible amount of energy to make it look effortless as possible.  Taking a minute away from the world of pretending was really what Friday afternoons were all about.

So, pulling on a scarf and her gloves, Jordyn decided she'd take a bit of respite in the courtyard.  It was unlikely, with the breeze, people would be milling about outside without a purpose.  Jordyn actual rather looked the brisk weather of mid-October, so she grabbed her bag, shoving her books in there - one for class, one she had bought right before the school year started and had shamelessly put it aside.  Now, however, maybe this afternoon, would be perfect for some reading.

Climbing up from the dungeons, Jordyn avoided the prying eyes and open mouths of her classmates and exitted to the courtyard, the large fountain in the middle.  Jordyn took a seat up on the edge, crossing her ankles and started to dig through the enchanted bag for her book. 

The courtyard was mostly deserted.  Few people would brave the October winds but Heinrich loved them.  He was heading for the lake for a quick dip before dinner.  Even fewer people would even consider plunging into the frigid waters but that was part of the enjoyment.  That initial shock of cold that left him breathless was what he sought.  It was why he tried to indulge in as much winter swimming as he could.  He suspected that Scotland wouldn't be much colder than Germany.  He was wearing a thick red robe over his bathing suit, which would have double anywhere as a pair of long shorts.

Holly, his black Pomeranian was, as always trotting at his heels.  She stopped, smelling something and then bolted off across the courtyard towards the fountain.  "Hollenhund!  Kommen sie heir, sie wenig untüchtig!"[1]

The little dog didn't listen.  It had detected another person, a girl who could do nothing less than admire her for her miniature canine perfection.  She jumped up on Jordyn's leg, barking to get her attention.

1.	Hellhound! Come here you little reprobate!

It was fortuitous that Jordyn could actually find what she was looking for amidst tubes of lip gloss, several other study books, and no less than three pairs of shoes she carried at all times.  But, eventually, her fingers brushed against the leather spine of the book and she knew she had grabbed the right trinket and withdrew it with a satisfied, and triumphant, smile. 

Her smile disolved as she she felt something on her knee and there was sharp barking - a moment of shock and a squeak, Jordyn dropped her book on the ground and looked at the source of the noise, letting out a substantially relieved breath and leaned down.  "Hello!" she greeted the attention seeker, an only slightly wary smile on her face.

She had never truly been a dog person - she had a cat, only because she was allowed, but big dogs scared her.  This little, black ball of fur, however did not seem quite so scary.  She tentatively reached out - slow, open palm, she didn't want to scare it into biting her, and ran her hand over the soft, silky fur.  "Now where is your owner?" she asked, though the panting dog could supply no actual answer.

Looking up, and around, Jordyn didn't see anyone - though she had sworn she heard a voice before... hmmm... "Hello?" she called out in the virtually deserted courtyard, forgetting all about the book on the ground. 

"I'm sorry.  Holly can be totally intrusive,"  Heinrich said as he came into view.  "I hope she didn't interrupt anything."  He saw the book lying on the ground and his cheeks flushed.  "Please tell me she didn't make you drop your book."  He knelt down and picked up the leather bound tome, brushing off the stray bits of dirt before extending it towards Jordyn.

He gave the dog a dirty look.  "Holly just seems to have the idea that everyone wants to admire her.  She's got to be the most vain dog I've ever seen."  His English held only the slightest trace of an accent.  "I'm truly sorry if she's intruding."

It did not take long before Jordyn's greeting was returned, only in an apology, rather than a greeting.  The voice that answered, once she lifted her eyes from the apparently friendly dog (thankfully), she noticed the tall young man it belonged to.  His voice was lilted in a soft accent - maybe Germanic, she realized, and immediately connected the words she couldn't quite make out not to distance, but to language. Jordyn, not one to impose on anyone, just smiled.  "It's no problem, really," she managed to say - surprised when he knelt to grab her book.

It was not a big deal, nothing that a swift run of the hand over the cover wouldn't fix, but he did that too and extended the book to her.  Reaching forward, Jordyn wrapped her fingers around it and took it off of his hands, "Thank you," she smiled, and softly dusted off the cover again before putting it on the bench next to her. 

Turning her attention back to the little dog, she laughed softly - Jordyn Dimbleby did not giggle - as she licked her fingers.  "Well, all ladies do require admiring from time to time," she quipped, running her hand over the smooth fur of her head, "And one so pretty, really - I couldn't blame her," she quirked a smirk, glancing up at him.  "No need to apologize for that."

"You are as kind hearted as you are beautiful,"  Heinrich said, lifting her hand to his lips to kiss.  "Holly always assumes that she will find a warm welcome.  It is fortunate that she is a small dog.  If she did what she did and was larger, she could quite easily hurt someone, all in the name of finding someone to tell her that she is a little black angel, rather than a demonic dust mop with a teeth and a voice."

There was no malice as he described the little dog.  In fact his affection for the tiny creature was unmistakable.  "Still she does allow me to meet some very interesting people.  My name is Heinrich Faust and I am one of the visitors from Durmstrang.  Can I assume from the colour of your scarf that you are from Slytherin?"

Alright. Foreign boys were proving a vast improvement over native English ones.  Kissing hands and compliments?  Jordyn could definitely get used to that.  She sat a little taller, trying not to blush - though she suspected she failed rather spectacularly. "Apparently, with an owner so charming," Jordyn smiled, smoothing down her skirt to occupy her hands - suddenly seeking something to do. 

Of course, when he spoke fondly of his little dog, Jordyn looked down at the fluffy thing, figuring that she didn't exactly match her master's austere look, but she couldn't judge.  Perhaps under the fur was a tough little creature.  She'd certainly seen similarly situated young women in her own house: all fur and fluff on the outside, but once the claws and teeth came out, it was all over.

"Then we're lucky she is her size," she added with a smile and fond scratch behind the little dog's ear.  The dog leaned into her hand and seemed to calm, "You should be kinder to her," her voice was teasing as she admonished him, "A lady doesn't like to be compared to a mop," she added, withdrawing her hand and pushing herself up.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Heinrich," she nodded, wondering vaguely what was the best greeting - though it was too late to even attempt something.  Glancing down, she smiled.  "You would assume correctly," there was a glint in her eyes, "this time." 

She licked her bottom lip.  "Are you visiting Hogwarts in hopes of being a champion?"

Heinrich chuckled.  "I try not to make too many assumptions unless I'm reasonably sure of being close to right."  He crouched down and stroked Holly 's head.  "She's a good dog, really.  She was a gift from my mother.  I was hoping for something a little larger but she has somehow managed to win me over despite her resemblance to said mop."  He scooped the dog up and she draped herself across his arm as if she belonged there.

"I am here for the tournament,"  he said, nodding.  "I wasn't chosen for the first task but I have high hopes for the second.  I was just heading down to the lake for a quick swim.  It helps keep my head clear.  Holly does too.  She's a wonderful distraction."

"I can't imagine you're wrong very often," Jordyn smiled.  Probably not true, boys were wrong much of the time.  But they were also prideful, particularly the ones from foreign schools - so she would just stoke it a little bit.  She just smiled, scratching the little dog's ears before she was scooped up into her owner's arms, lounging easily - very much unlike the jumping mass it was a few moments ago.

Listening to him talk of the tournament, she knew it was probably right that she mentioned something flattering.  Competitive people generally liked flattering, and required it to actually like someone.  Jordyn really just wanted to be liked. 

"I've been very impressed with the tournament," Jordyn pointed out, very genuine on that point.  It wasn't as though they weren't a great lot with skills she couldn't even think to possess.  "I hope you get picked," she added.

"But - more importantly," she laughed lightly, tilting her head to the side.  "Why on Earth would you want to swim in October? It's cold in September! It must be absolutely freezing now."

"Nobody's perfect,"  Heinrich replied. Nobody except Viktor.  "I make my share of mistakes.   Hopefully none of them will be tournament related.  That would be embarrassing."  He chuckled.

The second round would be the least critical, in his opinion.  He was torn between wanting the riskier last task or the safer middle one.  The middle one left a greater margin for error.  The last one would offer no second chances.  "I'm hoping I get picked this time."

"You've never jumped into the water during a really hot day in the summer, just to enjoy the shock of the cool water hitting you?" he asked.  "It is such an amazing feeling to have the cold water sliding across your skin, almost like it's caressing you."  He stopped before his description of the sensation straying into areas not meant for polite conversation.  "I swim all year round in Germany.  Out of the water and into a hot tub.  Out of the hot tub and into the water.  Occasionally I throw in a roll in the snow.  It's incredible."