Boredom could be a dangerous thing.  Especially on a crisp, spring morning when the sun was feeling bright and warm through the cool morning air.  And, when there was nothing to do before lunch.  There was something both soothing and invigorating about temperature contrasts: a warm fire on a cold night, feeling ice cubes melt in a hand warmed by a cup of tea or a warm ray of sun shining through cool morning fog.  It relaxed the body and woke up the mind.

Patches of fog still lurked in the shade when Mairead finally broke free of the potion’s dungeon.  After making sure her shoes were sufficiently soaked from the patches of dew still clinging to the grass, she’d made her way towards one of the larger oaks and had pulled herself up into the branches.  Climbing the tree had provided only a temporary source of entertainment.  Only a few minutes after settling into the fork between two large branches, the boredom had set in. 

Perhaps it was simple bad luck that brought McBoid out towards that particular tree.  Either way, it was unlikely the older girl would have spotted Mairead in the shadows between the branches.  The Gryffindor spotted the Hufflepuff, first, from her perch and watched the girl as she neared. She’d seen the girl around school though, of course, she didn’t know her name. 

“Whole forest of trees and ye’v got to come bugger this one?” Mairead scowled down at the girl, making her displeasure at being disturbed quite well known.  “Go find a badger hole to weasel into.  Yer supposed to be over there.”  Mairead gestured off in a rather non-specific direction.

Herbology had been extremely long early that morning, and unlike usual it had proven rather dull. Or maybe that was just because she already knew what the lesson had covered. The time after that had been spent in the common room for a nap and a bit of studying for her potions and astronomy. Now it was nearing lunch time, and she wanted some fresh outdoor air.

As Moira neared one of the usual trees a voice from above made her stop. Tilting her head up she scanned briefly until she caught sight of the owner of the voice. A second year she believed from their classes passing in hallways on the way to their classes. What was her problem?

With a roll of her eyes she turned and went instead to the neighboring tree and sat down among the slightly exposed roots. It wasn't like she was there to bother anybody, she just wanted a quiet spot where she might briefly feel like she was home and not stuck in the overly student infested school.

Mairead's eyes narrowed as she watched the older student turn and move away with almost no discernible response.  That was it.  No retort.  No sarcastic dismissal.  Not even a apathetic whatever.  The Gryffindor had achieved what she was looking for.  The ruddy Yellow Pufferfish had moved away and left her alone but there had been no satisfaction!  No reaction!  Nothing to make Mairead's efforts in running the lass off worthwhile. 

At first, Mairead remained in the tree, watching the girl from a distance.  Finally, the Gryffindor huffed and let out a long sigh.  She kicked her shoes off, letting them drop to the ground, before swinging down and dropping her barefeet into the grass. 

"You!  Mousey!"  Mairead strode over to the Hufflepuff and stood, barefoot, in front of her.  She glowered down at the girl and stuck a leg forward to nudge the sole of the girl's shoe.  "Mousey.  It's not quite a badger hole, but I give ye ah "O" for effort."  An entirely insincere chipper and congratulatory tone permeated Mairead's voice as she grinned down at the girl.  "Let's try the next trick.  How 'bout ye walk thirty meters in that direction.  Double points!"  Mairead pointed in the direction of the lake that clearly lay much closer than that.

Closing her eyes Moira set her head back against the tree and relaxed. She felt grounded and more in tune with things when it was like this. It was relaxing enough she could have drifted off in a sort of nap, but the girl's voice shouted at her and then she could /almost/ feel her approach.

With a small sigh she opened her eyes and looked at the younger girl.... and then just stared. Again she had to wonder what the girl's problem was. So far as Moira knew, she had done nothing to her to cause such a reaction, yet there the young Gryffindor stood... insulting her. To be honest with herself she wasn't sure whether to be annoyed or amused. People were so strange.

This was not helping Mairead alleviate her boredom at all!  Here she was, giving this Hufflepuff a clear direction and even a gentle nudge of encouragement on her foot.  How had she not gotten the picture?  This girl apparently wanted Mairead to go away and leave her alone and, at this point, that was the furthest thing from Mairead's mind. 

Yes, the Gryffindor was annoyed that the Hufflepuff had bothered her.  It might seem reasonable that Mairead would want to put distance between them but that would end up making the Hufflepuff's day, wouldn't it?  Mairead couldn't have that. 

Mairead plopped herself on the ground by the Hufflepuff with a resolute grin.  With a dramatically overly friendly grin, she shuffled right up next to the Hufflepuff's side and reached an arm out to drape it around her shoulder.  "Ye look like ye need a friend," Mairead declared, reaching out to poke the girl in the shoulder with her other hand in what could, in some circles, be viewed as a friendly gesture.  "How 'bout I be yer friend?"