Unintentional Rebel: The perils of sleeping past curfew on Cascade Hall

Renée Errant

March 01, 2011 2:51 PM

Unintentional Rebel: The perils of sleeping past curfew by Renée Errant

It was late, but not yet past curfew so Renée continued to sit, head bent down, dark curls spilling over her face, the only sound in the scarce dining room was the scratch, scratch, scratch of her quill. Impatiently tucking yet another loose strand behind her ear, she bit her lower lip in concentration. 'At first the snail-pot looked... brown? Tarnished? Tarnished...' She tucked another strand away. Often, she stretched her hair-ties too thinly that they simply snapped. That night she had snapped her last one; it was an idle habit, one with annoying consequences. 'After waiving my wand around three times this time around, my snail came out much better...' She huffed as a hair fell past her eyes. She set down her quill and ran her hands through her hair, beginning to twist the light strands into braids. She had been mourning the loss of her long hair in the beginning of the semester but now she realized the practicality of having had short hair.

Done, she picked up her quill again, brushing the feather against her mouth, tickling her jaw line as she traced her own face. She looked around for the time, seeing that it was about nine o'clock. She had an hour until she had to go back to Crotalus. She would have studied at the library, except that she had been helping to stack books earlier and she was bored of the same venue. Crotalus was too distracting, she wouldn't have been able to concentrate. At least here people seemed concentrated and focused. She flung her quill into the air and caught it again. 'Yep. Focused.'

She sighed, slumping in her seat, gazing at the blurred letters as her lids began to close. She had consciously waited until the last minute to do her Transfiguration essay and was now paying the procrastinating price. Was it her fault that she just didn't find homework interesting? Second year should have been more exciting than this. She couldn't resist the sudden softness of the table (hadn't it been hard only a moment ago?), the warmth of the room. She laid her head on her folded arms, intending to just to rest her eyes for one brief moment. Two moments. Just three. Just three short moments... maybe four... maybe five... six...

She shot up in her seat, gazing around her in a sort of nervous excitement. She'd unintentionally slept past curfew! She looked around at the clock but her gaze was unfocused and she couldn't keep what time it was to stick in her mind. She jumped to her feet, throwing papers, quills, books, ink bottles into her green knapsack patterned with moving images of her favorite Quidditch players in action. Glancing quickly at her former place she made sure she wasn't forgetting anything and then spun around to go.

"AAH!" She jumped startled, hand just below her neck on her chest as she stared at the spot where she thought she saw someone. 'Not a teacher.' She silently prayed. 'Please don't let it be a teacher.'

0 Renée Errant Unintentional Rebel: The perils of sleeping past curfew 0 Renée Errant 1 5

Sophia Randolph

March 03, 2011 2:40 AM

Intentional Rebel: The perils of startling someone by Sophia Randolph

Sophia wasn’t a rebel per se, or maybe she was just growing back into the personality so many people had deemed as spontaneous, before she started school. She didn’t know exactly why she had changed so much, maybe it had to do with the fact that it had been the first time she was away from her parents and her house. The green-eyed blonde had never slept outside of her house. Not even a slumber-party, her parents had been kind of strict with her. They were overprotective because she was an only child and she had come late into their lives. The change of sceneries and people were part of why she had closed herself to everyone, but not the only reason. At the start of this year, she had come to the conclusion that she needed to find that fun person inside of her, and by Merlin she would do it!

Anyways, the Pecari had been roaming through the Labyrinth Gardens after curfew (excellent for not being caught by Professor McKindy, or another staff member for that matter), and now she was thirsty. Her thirst was what made the third-year venture into the Cascade Hall to sneak into the kitchen and coerce a praire-elf to give her some water or even pumpkin juice. She really did not mind either one of them.

There was a thrill about being out of her House late at night that made adrenaline pump through her veins. It felt so good! Just like when she used to sneak out of her house and play on her backyard when her parents went to sleep. It had been harmless fun; she always ended up in her room perfectly safe. The Pecari didn’t believe those rumors about dangerous creatures living there; it would be highly irresponsible of the Staff if they did.

The Cascade Hall looked breath taking at night. She couldn’t describe it, it just was. The sounds from the cascades just gave the place a sacred feel to it. Sophia would never see the place the same, she would remember the quiet half-dark room she was in now. She grinned and began walking to the kitchen when she was startled by a scream and a semi-visible girl.

Sophia shushed her, “Are you crazy!? We are going to get caught!” she whispered in an urgent manner. The girl seemed to be scared, so Sophia began patting her shoulder, trying to soothe her. “I am sorry if I startled you, but be quiet.” The Pecari’s green-eyes scanned the Hall, trying to discern anyone else coming in. So far, so good.

0 Sophia Randolph Intentional Rebel: The perils of startling someone 167 Sophia Randolph 0 5

Renée

March 03, 2011 10:24 AM

Does this mean you've learned your lesson? by Renée

After the initial shock, Renée began to breathe easier, nervous excitement building up in her. “I thought you were a teacher.” She spoke in a loud whisper, unable to fully follow the girl’s order. “I fell asleep by accident. I didn’t mean to.” She jumped at another sound, but was unable to make out what it was in the semi-darkness. She stood closer to the girl, heart pounding in her chest, and a nervous smile on her lips. “You’re here on purpose, aren’t you?” She asked, awe in her tone. Though Renée often found herself missing classes (except for Care of Magical Creatures, which was holy) and ending up in weird situations with various wild creatures in the gardens, she had yet to ever break curfew on purpose. Being a part of an influential family did give her an endowed sense of privilege and security, but she still would have never defied such a rule intentionally.

But now that she had, she was ready to explore it.

She could hear the trickle of water, and made her way to one of the waterfalls, dropping her bag on the floor and letting her hands experience the shower. Every small action felt momentous, and she giggled, a strand of hair coming out of one of her braids. Still, she was scared, and every small sound made her jump internally. She hurried to where the other girl was (she seemed older) grabbing her bag again, and took her arm. “I just know they’re going to catch me if I try to go to Crotalus alone.” She whispered. “I’ll never hear the end of it from my mother. Can I come with you?” She was actually a rather solitary person, only interested in people if they were able to constantly entertain here. But at the moment, despite all her inner confidence and bravado, she was frightened of the uncertainties of walking throughout Sonora at night, after curfew, alone.

0 Renée Does this mean you've learned your lesson? 0 Renée 0 5

Sophia

March 03, 2011 11:06 PM

What lesson? by Sophia

Sophia shushed the girl once again. Was she suicidal? If they were caught, they would get in serious trouble! And trouble was the last thing the blonde third-year wanted to be in. Her parents wouldn’t like that, not at all. Just imagining the long letter from them was enough to send her to sleep. She loved her parents, but they could be quite boring when they were lecturing her. It rarely happened, because she never got caught. It wasn’t like she was an unruly child, but she liked to have adventures, from time to time. Sophia tried to be a good daughter and she was. She did everything that was required of her, but that didn’t meant she didn’t have fun.

Grinning mischievously at the girl, she responded her question, “Yes, I am here on purpose. I wanted something to drink after being in the Gardens.” It was a good thing that her commons were entered through it. It made everything easier. Sophia wondered why she had not done it before today. Every day that passed helped the third-year to find the girl that she was before starting school, and she loved every second of her self-discovery, or more like rediscovery.

She had to stifle a giggle at the girl’s jumping at every sound. Since she was used to the darkness and the natural sounds that came with it, she was not scared by them. Her green-eyes followed the girl playing with the waterfalls. She came back to her and grabbed her arm, Sophia just smiled at her “Sure, but you need to guide me. I have no idea where Crotalus is, I am a Pecari,” she said as a matter of fact. “By the way, I am Sophia Randolph.” She whispered back to her. Her green eyes were shinning with a mischievous glint; there was no better way to seek an adventure than breaking the occasional rule, and not getting caught.

“But before we head back to our respective Houses, I really want some pumpkin juice from the kitchens. That is why I am here, after all,” She grinned at her new companion.

0 Sophia What lesson? 0 Sophia 0 5

Renée

March 04, 2011 7:08 PM

Not to startle people! by Renée

"Oh, that's what I meant." Renée said hurriedly, her voice rising before she became aware of it and hastily lowered it again. She smiled up at the girl. "I'll go with you wherever. I don't think I'll make it to Crotalus at all until morning." Maybe she would just stay in the kitchens. Surely the prairie elves wouldn't tell on her or anything. "Renée Errant." She whispered back, giggling suddenly at the strange situation. "I've never introduced myself at night before. In this way I mean. I feel like a partner in crime." Every inch of her was thrilled by the nervous excitement of the air. She couldn't stand completely still, her fingers idly dancing on the girl's arm, silently asking if they could go and start walking.

"So, do you always get pumpkin juice late at night?" She asked as she began to walk with Sophia. It was an odd quality, but Renée was simply unable to try to get to know uninteresting people. If she was not amused, then the person must go. On the other end of the spectrum, with people like her brother for instance, she put those she found interesting on a pedestal, content to idolize them in worshipful demanding satisfaction. Demanding because she expected them to be somewhat interesting all the time. Despite just meeting Sophia, Renée was already indulging in fantasies of what the girl's general day must be like; 'She definitely sneaks out here all the time. She's a Pecari, I bet she knows every animal in the gardens. She's brilliant. She must know every spell. She's mastered all her classes.' The thoughts continued to tumble throughout her mind in waves of delight, a small smile curving her lips.

0 Renée Not to startle people! 0 Renée 0 5

Sophia

March 06, 2011 8:29 PM

Oh that one...maybe...I don't know yet by Sophia

Sophia playfully rolled her eyes at Renée, she seemed to forget the position they were currently in, and it was one that would get them in a whole lot of trouble if they were caught. The Pecari was not going to go down thanks to someone else. When Renée lowered her voice again (Thank Merlin!), Sophia smiled at her. Better. They were stealthier this way.

Now, two girls prowling through Sonora at night was something that Staff would find highly annoying. The blonde just wanted to go back to her House without being caught. She didn’t think Prof. McKindy would be that lenient with her, since she had purposely broken a lot of rules. For some reason she could not stop grinning. She was high on adrenaline, it just made her feel like she used to way back when.

“Nice to meet you Renée,” she whispered back to her. It felt nice being on an adventure with someone else. It felt like what Sophia supposed having a little sister felt like, she always wanted one, but knew her parents would never comply. They were too old to have any more children. In fact, she had been a sort of miracle child. The positive side of this was that their attention had been fully focused on her, but at the same time that had caused some serious overprotection over their only daughter.

“Not really, but I plan on doing it regularly now. It is so much fun.” The excitement was visible in her green-eyes, but if Renée could see it as lost to her. After all, they were in a dark place. “Come on,” she stirred her towards the kitchens. Once they were inside, the praire-elves seemed to be missing. Good, but now she had the task of finding where they had the drinks. “Where do you think they have the drinks?” she mumbled to herself, forgetting for a minute that she was accompanied. After a few minutes of pondering this, she went to the obvious place…the fridge. There it was the pumpkin juice cold and tasty. It was amazing how cooling charms worked on beverages, they always seemed to be the perfect temperature.

She took some sips from the bottle, and looked at Renée, “So do you always stay up late and study in the Cascade Hall?” her tone of voice was still low.

0 Sophia Oh that one...maybe...I don't know yet 0 Sophia 0 5

Renée

March 08, 2011 10:38 AM

Then again, we wouldn't be having this adventure if you had. by Renée

Renée allowed herself to be steered towards the kitchens, content with Sophia’s answer. She had never really been the one to intentionally seek people out but already she knew where she would be the next night (‘And the night after that, and the night after that, and the night after that.’). They entered the kitchens, Renée peering around for one the elves but none were around. She heard the older girl mumble something and when she looked up Sophia was pulling something out of the fridge. Renée grinned, placing her hands behind her on a counter, and lifting herself up, settling on the marble surface. “Thief.” She teased.

She pouted slightly, noticing the braids unwinding by themselves. Marianna did nice tight braids, and even David could be cajoled into doing her hair, but Renée was for some reason hopeless. She began to easily unwind them; her hair would no longer be such a burden as she wasn’t bent over studying. At Sophia’s question, her fingers paused, and then began undoing the braids again. “Not really. Well, I’m not usually studying.” She rolled her eyes at herself. “I’m a shame to Crotalus. I leave all my homework to the end and then stay up late doing it all. So, I have to do this every once in awhile. Other people were studying there too. I was sort of waiting for their focus to just wash into me.” The long dark curls spilled out to frame her face. She tucked the strands behind both ears and stretched out a hand towards Sophia. “Juice!” She playfully begged.

Despite the fact that Sophia still had her voice low, Renée couldn’t seem to keep that fact in constant mind. Trouble now seemed a vast distance away. She was with an older girl, who surely knew everything, and would keep her out of trouble while also guaranteeing her an exciting time. Renée knew without a doubt that this was how it would feel when Gabriel will take her with him on his adventures as a mapmaker/explorer. True, he had only promised this at the time to help her parents put her and keep her in bed, but she was holding onto that promise with a tight grip. They would travel together all around the world. She would provide the assistance he would need for anything, and he would guarantee her safety like a good older brother should. But as he was away at university, she was more than content with the adventures (and people) she found at Sonora.

“How did you sneak out past curfew?” She asked Sophia curiously. “I have this one roommate who doesn’t sleep at all. I think she’s acting on one of the teacher’s orders to watch the rest of us or something. Don’t you have that?” Actually, now that she thought about it, Eliza was probably up right now obsessing about her whereabouts. Renée still didn’t know what to think about that girl. She was rather startled sometimes by the hatred she saw in the girl’s eyes. It was almost quite… flattering. She hadn’t ever excited so much passion in someone before. ‘I ought to do something…’ That tiny grinning little voice urged her on. ‘Get her even more excitable.’

0 Renée Then again, we wouldn't be having this adventure if you had. 0 Renée 0 5

Sophia

March 10, 2011 2:35 PM

Good point! by Sophia

Sophia drank her pumpkin juice with such glee, the fact that she was out of bed breaking rules, gave the pumpkin juice a new enhanced flavor. The blonde liked it. She shook her head in laughter and the younger girl’s teasing, “It’s not stealing! It is already paid for!” she said matter of factly. She wasn’t completely sure if she was actually stealing it, she hoped not. There was a fine line between rule-breaker and thief, and Sophia did not like the idea of thievery. She had never taken something without asking or paying for it first. No matter how much she wanted it and how broke she was. She didn’t want to start now, at school of all the places.

“Get it yourself!” she giggled in response to her demand. She couldn’t stop giggling at her response to her question. Sophia always wondered how the sorting came to be, she sometimes found that the sortings were somewhat faulty, but on the other side, the potion was far too complex for her to understand how it really worked. Renée had to be a Crotalus, there was no way around it. The potion had said so. “Yes, focus is important,” she nodded seriously. It was hard to do it with a lot of people around, of that she was certain. Sophia preferred to study alone, that way she didn’t get distracted; it didn’t take too much to distract the blonde.

After finishing with her pumpkin juice, she threw the empty bottle in a nearby wastebasket, and looked for something else to do while they were in the kitchen. Since she wasn’t hungry, there really was not anything else to do. “I didn’t actually sneak past curfew, I just happened to be outside when curfew came,” she grinned in Renée’s direction. The younger girl was fun to be around with, in spite of the fact that she couldn’t keep her voice down. Maybe a praire-elf could hear and go to get a Staff member, danger could be lurking everywhere! And she did not want to get into trouble. It was better to sneak around and not get caught! “Not really, my roommates are all right. I haven’t had trouble with them.” Now that she thought about it, she wasn’t close to any of them, Sophia had other friends outside of her House, and she hardly ever thought about the people she shared a room with.

Seeing as there was nothing else for them to be doing in the kitchen, she looked at Renée and smiled, “Are you getting your juice or can we leave?” it was late and she was tired. Not to mention that they both had classes tomorrow morning.

0 Sophia Good point! 0 Sophia 0 5

Renée

March 10, 2011 9:03 PM

I enjoy making those :) by Renée

Renée stifled a yawn behind her hand, not wanting to show how tired she was. Her mind was still active, running through the many possible scenarios she could enjoy later that night, perhaps exploring another part of the school with Sophia. But the excitement and fatigue that had been battling inside her body was over, and she couldn't help but notice how much heavier her eyelids now were. "Ugh, that's what the elves are supposed to be here for." She made a show of sliding off the counter, making her way to the fridge. "And you tire too easily." She playfully accused over her shoulder. Reaching in for a bottle of pumpkin juice, she enjoyed the cool rush of air, forcing herself to wake up a little more as she turned back to Sophia, letting the fridge door close behind her. "I'd stay up all night... but I'll go with you." She'd already forgotten that she had admitted to Sophia she'd fallen asleep earlier. Somehow, doing so sounded infantile in her mind.

She opened the cap of the bottle, tilting her head back, curls tickling her neck, and let the sweet drink flow, enjoying that hint of spice warming her throat. She looked up again at Sophia, lowering the drink from her lips. "Alright, let's go." She walked beside her, wondering where they should part since technically she wasn't supposed to show where the Crotalus common room was and she knew she wasn't supposed to know where Pecari was either. The fact was, she did have a general idea it was in the gardens, because she had had a relative sorted there and one couldn't help but notice the number of Pecari students wandering to and from the labyrinth.

"Um, so..." she hesitated, swinging the bottle lightly in her grip before taking a sip of it again. "Will I - " She broke off, giggling at herself, amazed at her own shyness. "I'm going to be back here again." She pronounced, voice again carrying louder than intended before she hastily lowered it. "And you - uh, you're welcome to join me." She paused, then laughed, quietly this time. "No, no. That's not what I meant to say. I'm tired." She stopped walking, grasping the older girl's hand and lightly squeezing the palm, and beaming at her. "I just meant this was fun. You sort of remind me of someone." She let go of her hand and lifted the bottle of pumpkin juice, as if in a toast. "A la noche." Her spanish had been greatly improved over the months, out of her eagerness to prove to the rest of her family that despite her being born in New York, she was just as Spanish as the rest of them. "And good night. I'm going this way." She felt a little anxious about making her way to the common room alone, and would have felt better with somebody beside her, but she knew it was out of the older girl's way. She gripped her bag tightly, a part of her still looking forward to the adventure she hoped she'd survive. Her mind was already coming up with fascinating demons she might meet in the dark, and she shot a nervous smile at Sophia as she turned to walk away. 'This is the part in the story when they shout, "Don't do it!"'

0 Renée I enjoy making those :) 0 Renée 0 5

Sophia

March 12, 2011 1:42 AM

I can see it by Sophia

Sophia had to stifle a giggle at Renée. She was funny, and a somewhat decent partner in crime, she just needed to learn to be quiet, otherwise they would be caught, and that was not a good thing. She just ignored the elf comment, Sophia didn’t own one, and she doubted she would ever own it. Her parents weren’t wealthy, and they would never be. The only way they suddenly became rich was if her grandparents suddenly decided they wanted them back, but that was unlikely, if not impossible. When Sophia searched for the Randolph’s she had met cold-hearted people that were bitter with life in general. It had not been a very long visit; just enough to make it clear to her that she was not welcomed and never would be. It hurt, she had to admit, but she had been fine without them so far and that was going to continue. Her parents didn’t know anything about that, Sophia was afraid that if they did, they were going to get angry at her. It was her secret.

“Yeah right Renée, you are tired,” she playfully stuck her tongue out at the younger girl. She reminded the Blonde about her neighbor. She patiently waited for Renée to finish her drink, she finally didn't but she was ready to go. Sophia began walking, her senses once again alert for any impeding danger. Everything seemed to be all right, and she let out a small sigh of relief. They were going to make it! She was sure.

Renée started talking and Sophia stopped walking when Renée did, she was startled by her sudden change of demeanor, the younger girl seemed so shy out of the blue it was weird, considering the liveliness she had just a moment ago. “See? You are also tired” she couldn’t help whisper teasingly back at her. She continued to listen to her, and couldn’t help but smile at her. She was so cute. “Yes, it was fun, and I will be delighted to repeat it.” Sophia looked at the exit of the Cascade Hall, and glanced back again just to take in the grandness of the room and how strikingly beautiful it looked at night.

“Well, good night Renée. Be careful and you know where to find me,” the third-year Pecari winked at her and made her way to the exit, “Lets repeat this, but in another venue. There is so much to explore,” she whispered excitedly. Sophia was sure she had found the perfect partner in her wanderings. After she left the Cascade Hall, she was struck by curiosity, since she had forgotten to ask Renée who she reminded her of. She would the next time she saw her.

0 Sophia I can see it 0 Sophia 0 5