22 January 2011
Sunday at 2pm
The Old Hospital Hut, Hogwarts Grounds

Zeta sat on the stoop of the old Hospital Hut[1] bundled up against the cold weather, thoroughly peeved, waiting for her partner. They were working on protection wards in Defense Against the Dark Arts and Professor Storm had broken them up into groups, and each group would attempt to ward up some part of the school. Zeta had been paired with Rigel Acrux, and they'd been assigned the old Hospital Hut. [2] She could write an essay on all the ways this situation disagreed with her. Schoolwork on a Sunday, outside, with Rigel Acrux. The fates were out to get her.

If Zeta and the other Slytherin boy had ever got along, it had all been ruined when he'd been a right git at her first werewolf rights meeting. They hadn't spoken since. They shared a couple classes, but there'd been no reason to interact until now when Professor Storm was making them.

She moved some of her red hair out of her face, and bounced her legs up and down to keep the blood flowing into her feet. She'd made a little magical fire in front of her on the paving stones and that helped. Finally, she saw Rigel coming down the path.

Zeta stood up and called out impatiently. "You better have remembered the key!"

1.	More about the old Hospital Hut
2.	Approved by Kit

He had his trench coat on around him, tightened by his two hands pulling closer to each other to keep the warm air from escaping to the outside. Neck tucked into the collar to do the same. Upon hearing her calling out, he relaxed and smiled, pulled the key out of his pocket and waved at her.

"Me? Unprepared," he laughed, she looked annoyed. He knew that he wasn't the best partner for her to have. Maybe she'd warm up to him, at least at the end of this assignment.

Zeta huffed a sigh, extinguished her little fire, and nipped the key from Rigel. She quickly unlocked the door and went inside.

It wasn't much warmer inside the unused hut, but at least it was dry and there was no wind. The only light came from the hazy afternoon sun coming through dusty windows. All the furniture was covered in sheets and there were chests and things stacked where there was room. Much still remained of when Healer Nagde ran the hospital here - apothecary chests, metal bedframes disassembled against a wall, glass cases that once held many glass bottles. The place still smelled of bright, fresh herbs and spices.

Zeta took off her lime green peacoat and gloves. She had a black and white striped sweater on underneath. Rigel in his trenchcoat always looked so put together which was more than any of the Hufflepuff boys could say. Sweet but scruffy, that lot. Zeta regarded her partner, tapping the handle of her wand in her palm, unsure of what to say. 

She clicked her tongue. "So, Storm said we're supposed to secure this place so that owners can come and go, but no one else can break in. You're good at this, right?"

She really hoped he was, because she wasn't exactly the top student anymore. She couldn't remember if Rigel was one of the goof-off Slytherin or overachiever Slytherin. He had an entire year of Defense Against the Dark Arts more than her so presumably he'd be better at the wards they were supposed to set up.

He met her look with his own. She paused more than what he was used to. He wondered what she was thinking.
 "Uh. Yeah, I'm okay at it. I'm surprised you are asking me though."
Rigel took off his coat to revel his tucked in checkered light grey and green shirt with his black suspenders. Summoned an aura of heat around him since the cold air would inevitiably seep into the cabin. It was a nice abandoned place, nice enough to hang out with some friends maybe even Ayla.

"How do you want to start, or rather where? Also how's Lucinda?"

Zeta gave Rigel a look. She didn't understand why he was surprised she thought the seventh year should know what he was doing. Was he being nice? He hadn't been so accommodating back in the SAWS meeting.

"You're seventh year," she answered. "And probably windows. Anti-shattering or something."

She set her textbook down and started leafing slowly through to find the spell. As to his next question.

"Why are you asking? How's that your business?"

Zeta wasn't normally this defensive or hostile but things were kind of in shambles. All the terrible things that happened last full moon and those nasty, violent flier showing up in the Great Hall,[1] it was hard not to remember that Rigel wasn't exactly a Friend Indeed. Or that he was seeing Ayla Collins, Zeta's beloved housemate. Also, Lucinda has asked her out a few weeks ago and even though things seemed fine between the two of them, it did feel a bit odd.[2]

1.	13 Jan 2012 - The Rapture is Coming
2.	11 Jan 2012 - Be Still My Fluffy Heart

"I am the seventh year but you're a leader," he smiled and turned the window. What he really wanted to do was leave a sort of weakness so that he and his friends could get in here later without completely undoing their work today. The place was warming up nicely - he placed a ringed aura around his wand hand so he could see where he was casting better.

"I'm pretty sure its on page 527, I'm not sure though," Rigel said in an off hand manner, "also I just wanted to make sure she's okay."

"Z... I really want to have a party here." He was having a hard time focusing at the task at hand. This place is a really nice secluded place for a nice little get together. Man, he'd get into so much trouble. He took a break from the three minutes of "intense" work he had just done. Sat on an almost broken down chair and leaned back. Thinking of all the possibilities of a nice low-key get together. Maybe even a valentines date. Oh man that would be good. 

"Lucinda's fine," Zeta said, but not actually being sure of that. She'd gotten in trouble about the flyers too, been called a 'beast' by Professor Onuris. Everything was slightly a mess. But Zeta didn't want to be talking about Lucinda's business all over the school.

Rigel called her 'Z' which was too familiar in her opinion. They weren't friends.

They worked in silence for a couple moments, each of them casting anti-shattering spells on the glass windows. The hut wasn't old but it had a sort of rustic, hand-made feel to it. It had once been a warm space. Rigel was right: it'd be a sick venue for a party. She imagined fairy lights strung in the low rafters, a sink and fireplace, and even private quarters in the back. That, and Slytherin were known for their parties. And known for getting their parties raided.

Zeta came back from the back to find Rigel sitting down. He was so at ease.

"We're not done," she said, back at the book. "Storm said not to worry about anti-Apparition since that's already covered. You do the door."  Zeta would do the chimney. It wasn't connected to the Floo Network, but someone could still find some way to use the chimney.

"There's a rumor you got bit by a vampire at Christmas," she said after a minute. The Hogwarts Howler (to which Zeta sometimes contributed cartoons) had been in rare form this month.[1]

1.	20 Jan 2012 - Hogwarts Howler

"I mean look at me Z, I have a pretty vibrant life force wouldn't you say?" He waived his wand and took a bow with one hand on his stomach. He laughed, "No just boring old Rigel, no blood lust here. I'm honestly surprised you gave any countenance to such a gloriously written newsletter."

"Thought you were better than that," he winked.

He moved to the door as Zeta instructed with his shoulders drooped and slagged along. This was boring already, my god. He sluggishly waved his hand with drooping aftereffects out of his wand, sputtering blue limped liquid.

"Do you ever just... you know, take a break for a second. Tell me Z, what's on your mind? What's up?! How're you. Talk to me." He slumped back into that chair with drama, pushing it back and making it collapse on its back legs. He sat there on the floor, stationary for a bit taking in what just happened. Back to the floor, legs held up by the base of the chair. It looked as if he was sitting upside down. He rose his arms up to the sky, "Like what's NEW in your life." Put his hands down and crossed them on his stomach. 

"Don't call me 'Z'," Zeta said. The contrast between Zeta and Rigel's attitude was becoming hard to notice. Zeta had come into this assignment ready to have to be untouchable, immune to whatever mind games Rigel might play. He had a reputation. She had no reason not to be skeptical of him. He'd done this before, started off 'nice' and then get high and mighty. Zeta had never been the wittiest in a conversation, all she could usually manage in a pinch was being snippy. But at a certain point, you couldn't just keep responding to someone being nice-ish with being an asshole.

Zeta turned and lowered her wand to take the suggested break.

"I don't know. We're not friends. Those are 'friends' questions. My holiday was dead boring, school's a chore, and the world is falling apart. You know, not great."

Zeta shrugged as if to say, 'happy now?'

"That makes me sad!" He plopped up, waved his wand and the chair reversed through the motions that broke it in the first place. The room was starting to heat up a bit, or at least the energy that Rigel just exerted made him sweat a tiny bit, he began to roll his sleeves up neatly.

Rigel sat back down with more caution, crossed his legs and looked at Zeta. He thought about offering his support but does she really need it? Coming from him she'll think he's trying to play her. This is a residual side effect from his bad behavior. He sat silently for just a couple moments before adding, "There is a room of requirement thing going on right now, have you heard of it? I know I am the last person you want to talk to, likewise with taking advice but I'm sure that person would love to help? Have you heard about them?"

Zeta let her wand drop to her side. She made him sad? Zeta didn't know how to take that. She just sort of stared at him. No one had ever said anything like that to her. He said something about the Room of Requirement. The infamous, multi-purpose, seemingly psychic Room of Requirement. She'd needed it plenty of times but had never been in.

She shook her head. "I have no idea what you're talking about. You're telling me there's a ghost in the Room of Requirement giving out advice?"

It wasn't actually beyond the realm of possibility. That room could do anything, even keep out Death Eaters. It was entirely within its capabilities to dispense wisdoms.

"Are you on gillyweed...?" she asked slowly. Not unkindly, though. She was curious. Genuinely perplexed. "Billywig stings?"

Maybe just loads of espresso? She'd heard he was Italian.

“Yeah! I heard it goes by Rah or whatever. I don’t even know dude. Shits WEIRD.” He said while he was on the ground twirling with his wand.

He perked up when he heard gillyweed.

“No! But I have some left if you need some? Oh... OH! I see what’s happening here. You’ve never hung out with me before. Yeah no I’m normally not an ass... I don’t think? God.. am I an asshole?” He looked at Zeta with a dead pan expression before he broke character and laughed. She was doing all the work and He was sure zeta was starting to get annoyed.

“Oh man,” he wiped a tear from his eye from the laughter, “I’m so sad by your unacquaintance of me.”

“I think if you actually got to know me you’d be surprised by a lot of things. I’m like, cool dude.”

He was laughing at her. He was being an unhelpful weirdo and now he was laughing at her. She was trying her hardest with him. Well, her pretty hardest. Okay, she was barely making an effort but then, he hadn't proved he was worth the effort. The only reason she was trying to get along with him at all was so they could get this stupid shack warded and she could pass Defense.

He claimed he wasn't normally and arse, but when he started laughing it sort of negated that.

"Right, erm, 'cool dudes' don't have to say they're cool dudes," Zeta said. "Just, be 'cool'. For example," she said and gestured towards the books, "it would be really cool if you could, you know, help. I have other things to be doing today."

Do more work for S.A.W.S, she was working on a collage, she was way behind on laundry, she hadn't even started on Astronomy.

"And, like," she continued, unable to help herself because he was being just so ugh, "why would I want to get to know you? You completely ruined our meeting and were nasty to my friends. Would you want to get to know you?"

"Oh that makes sense, I was pretty misunderstood that night. WHOO! I've never seen someone so mad before. I get it though, I think. Yeah that was a bad night for all of us. I should really keep my mouth shut till I know how to articulate my thoughts better." His boy language fell, what was once relaxed but firm turned sloppy and lackadaisical. He felt guilty and ashamed. Rigel smiled, forced himself into a new position and sat up with his chin resting on his hands, elbows propped up on the table.

“First of all my guy, I’m hella cool.” Rigel sat back, leaned his chair back then leant forward to snap up and walk over to an un-hexxed part of the shack. He figured that he shouldn’t act like a smart ass, or that he should try to help her with any of the work that could be misinterpreted as him trying to be impressive or correcting her. His mood has changed. She had a great question.

He felt misunderstood. Zeta shook her head. "Wow. Just. Wow."

At least Rigel brushed up against the possibility of apologizing. Just close enough to smell the humility, very nearly breezing by the entire point. She watched as he fidgeted back and forth, changing position in the chair, leaning forward, slouching down. It looked like he was wrestling with something inside. Zeta frowned.

But then he got up and looked like he was about to help. She wasn't sure what to think, though. He was completely unpredictable - slick and deferent in one moment and then launching into some obnoxious speech the next. She didn't trust it. It made her uncomfortable.

"Fireplace," she directed him, pointing him over to it. It was large enough for someone to fit through. There was even a little urn on the mantle that was familiar as a container for Floo Powder. She didn't imaging it was connected though. Too bad. She could Floo to Australia where it was summer and there was no homework.

She continued on the windows.

"And I'm not your guy."