Solana moved up the spiral staircase, wanting a place where she could get some air.. and a good place to think. She knew her sister preferred a balcony on some other floor while she was here, but Sol had to find her own place.. and it was this.

She gained the top and smiled softly as she looked out over the view.. the fifth year ran a hand through her newly cropped blonde hair and took a deep breath, before settling down on one of the wooden barrels. Still a little weak, from what had happened earlier in the summer..

She wasn’t sure she was prepared for this year, but hopefully things would be okay. She closed her stormy eyes and took another deep breath, the air smelled so good at Hogwarts.. different from any other place she had been.. it felt almost, calming in a way.

The Battlements were often Darren's favorite spot in all of Hogwarts. Heights never bothered the Gryffindor, though he was not a good flier so soaring through the skies on a broom he would not be doing very often. He liked to be able to see the whole of the Castle's surroundings.

Today though he was not at the edge looking out toward the Grounds. He was set up on one of the barrels near the the staircase that led to the top. At first he was putting in some studying for NEWTs. Sitting behind him on the barrel was a History of Magic book. Pages open and flapping in the wind. He was no longer looking at it.

Wand out, glaring at it intensely as though he were trying to will it to do what he wanted more so than usual.

Every so Often an Owl would fly overhead and Darren's focus would be pulled from his wand looking up toward the birds, but there was a determination on the Gryffindor's face that said that today would be the day that he would do it. No more non-corporeal Patronuses ...Patroni? This Lion wanted one that formed into the shape of an animal. It wasn't enough that he got plenty of spells figured out non-verbally. This was the spell he wanted done right for this year. NEWTs be damned.

What was the thing? Happy thoughts right? He figured being here in his favorite spot would get that emotion flowing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Moose

The Battlements were often Darren's favorite spot in all of Hogwarts. Heights never bothered the Gryffindor, though he was not a good flier so soaring through the skies on a broom he would not be doing very often. He liked to be able to see the whole of the Castle's surroundings.

Today though he was not at the edge looking out toward the Grounds. He was set up on one of the barrels near the the staircase that led to the top. At first he was putting in some studying for NEWTs. Sitting behind him on the barrel was a History of Magic book. Pages open and flapping in the wind. He was no longer looking at it.

Wand out, glaring at it intensely as though he were trying to will it to do what he wanted more so than usual.

Every so Often an Owl would fly overhead and Darren's focus would be pulled from his wand looking up toward the birds, but there was a determination on the Gryffindor's face that said that today would be the day that he would do it. No more non-corporeal Patronuses ...Patroni? This Lion wanted one that formed into the shape of an animal. It wasn't enough that he got plenty of spells figured out non-verbally. This was the spell he wanted done right for this year. NEWTs be damned.

What was the thing? Happy thoughts right? He figured being here in his favorite spot would get that emotion flowing.

One that tended to work better with his bare hands, Cooper had long lost his own aspirations for a patronus when during OWL revision he could barely manage a silvery wisp. It was disappointing, sure, but not every witch or wizard was guaranteed a patronus form and given everything that hormones and being a teenager had thrown at him...the Ravenclaw was learning to walk away with his head high from things that may just not be meant for him and everything else and che sarà, sarà to the rest.

The battlements were far from his favorite spot in the castle, though it had made the top ten list of favorite places to photograph from seeing as it offered one of the best views of the entirety of Hogwarts' grounds. Not to mention the fresh air was always nice. A favorite camera slung over his shoulder (recently tweaked a bit by his own hand to increase the zoom quality on the century and a half old device) and with the rest of his supplies in the leather satchel bag slung over his other shoulder, Cooper ascending the steps and stepped through the door to find he wasn't the only one seeking the view and fresh air on the day.

...he was also unaware that his fellow seventh year was in intense focus mode at the moment as he greeted him from just off to the side. "Oi, Darren. Mind a bit of company? The lack of clouds have the lighting just perfect and the trees are started to get dotted with color changes." He even had some color film with him today, though that was loaded into a different camera tucked away neatly in his bag.

She wasn't trying to avoid doing her homework except she was but she needed to get out of the Gryffindor Common Room to get some fresh air. After some thinking, Trissa chose to go to the Battlements instead of taking a shortcut behind one of the tapestries on the seventh floor to get to the Grounds.

She walked up the spiral staircase, thinking about how she was certain that she was going to fail her Herbology O.W.Ls in a few months but then remembered that Ingrid had offered to help her study. She felt a bit better at this thought and as she reached the top the girl looked up at the sky.

She inhaled deeply through her nose and exhaled loudly through her mouth. Fresh air was the best, especially at this altitude. She stretched her arms and turned to look around, only to discover that she wasn't the only one up here. "Oh. Hello, Solana!" she waved with both of her hands and walked in her direction, only to collide with one of the wooden crates scattered around.

"Stupid things" she mumbled under her breath as she rubbed her knee before she sat down on a barrel next to her. "Woah! did you change your hair?" She took a look at her own long red hair. Should she change her hairstyle as well? It hadn't been changed in years.

Perhaps his was not meant to be? He knew a patronus charm needed some key variables to hit that corporeal form, and the fact that it seemed that Darren would not meet those variables only depressed him further. Which was again fully against what it took to form an animal from the silvery blue streams he found he could only create from his wand. "Expecto Patronum" The Gryffindor spoke casting the whisps of blue and silver from his wand with the same results as always. "ah... hell." He exclaimed to himself as he let the magical effects dissipate from the tip of his wand and he looked toward the opening of the Battlements and one, Cooper Branxton standing over him. He stood up while answering the Ravenclaw classmate's question. "No, I don't mind." He pocketed his wand and looked behind to his History of Magic book noting that it was long past the page he left it on thanks to the wind, and he had forgotten to mark his page. He picked that up and started to flip through it back and forth to find where it might have been that he left off on. First Wizarding War something or other about the Order of the Phoenix being formed. He'll find it later. There was company.

"Off to the left of the Battlements." Darren pointed. "The leaves are changing the most in the Forrest that way." He looked at Branxton's camera slung around his shoulder. They picked a great time to come up and get some shots. "I saw the article about you in Witch Weekly. Congrats." He stuffed his History of Magic book into his knapsack and walked toward where he pointed to look out toward the Forrest. He motioned Cooper to come look himself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Moose

Perhaps his was not meant to be? He knew a patronus charm needed some key variables to hit that corporeal form, and the fact that it seemed that Darren would not meet those variables only depressed him further. Which was again fully against what it took to form an animal from the silvery blue streams he found he could only create from his wand. "Expecto Patronum" The Gryffindor spoke casting the whisps of blue and silver from his wand with the same results as always. "ah... hell." He exclaimed to himself as he let the magical effects dissipate from the tip of his wand and he looked toward the opening of the Battlements and one, Cooper Branxton standing over him. He stood up while answering the Ravenclaw classmate's question. "No, I don't mind." He pocketed his wand and looked behind to his History of Magic book noting that it was long past the page he left it on thanks to the wind, and he had forgotten to mark his page. He picked that up and started to flip through it back and forth to find where it might have been that he left off on. First Wizarding War something or other about the Order of the Phoenix being formed. He'll find it later. There was company.

"Off to the left of the Battlements." Darren pointed. "The leaves are changing the most in the Forrest that way." He looked at Branxton's camera slung around his shoulder. They picked a great time to come up and get some shots. "I saw the article about you in Witch Weekly. Congrats." He stuffed his History of Magic book into his knapsack and walked toward where he pointed to look out toward the Forrest. He motioned Cooper to come look himself.

Ooh, Patronus Charm. Cooper offered a polite little clap at Darren even managing to produce that little wisp - it was an accomplishment of its own, you know? It almost seemed cruel dangling such powerful magic in front of a bunch of teenagers, most if not all were no where near close to figuring anything out and this particular spell requiring a very distinct quality of self reflection and confidence to boost. Cooper could never. Well...at least the Cooper as he stood here now could never.

Che sarà, sara.

"Hey, that looked pretty good." High standards for yourself though, he got that. He lived that and was trying to reign that in a bit so he could actually enjoy existing.

"Oh cool, thanks," he grinned while giving the Gryffindor a quick salute before meandering over that way and adjusting his camera once more for the different way the lighting hit on this side of the tower. He had just lifted the camera to his eye, zoom adjustment in progress, when Darren brought up the Witch Weekly article. His neck disappeared between his shoulders a bit, sheepish at the reminder that that had not been a dream and even more so that there were plenty of his peers who saw and maybe even read the article in full, but it was also a sense of pride. So he played turtle for only a few seconds before his posture straightened and he rolled his shoulders. "Still kind of feels like a dream...the whole thing...but I'm grateful. It's...nice to have a passion validated."

And, in a way, immortalized.

Solana turned to look at the newcomer and blinked a bit as she saw Trissa coming towards her! "Hey!" She said with a soft smile and a wave at the other girl, only to wince slightly as she collided with some crates.

"Are you okay?" She asked as she moved closer, the healer in her wanting to make sure the other girl hadn't seriously injured herself! She looked down at her knee, only to nod as the other girl spoke.

"Yeah, it's been a rough few years, I though maybe some new hair would be good?" She said with a shrug as her fingers reached up to touch the short blonde strands. New year, new her.. type of thing?

he smiled lightly at the clap. He was sure Cooper was impressed, but this was the same. It was as far as he could get it. So, while the approval was appreciated the feeling of being just short was still there. It was like being applauded for taking 4th place in a competition. You've done well, and it impressed a few but it wasn't even good enough to take 1st or even make the podium. "Thanks. I still need to get it to form into a shield, or barrier at the least." Baby steps, though Darren just wanted it right the first time.

Was it bad to bring up the Witch Weekly article? Darren would give an arm and a leg to get that kind of recognition. Seeing Cooper turtle like that made him feel a bit bad for it at first. Cooper's response said otherwise. "That's good, great. You've been doing photography for what? Longer than I've know you I think right?"He'd have to go back an re-read the article. Pretty sure it mentions how long he'd been taking photos. To have a passion validated. Darren thought about his for a moment and it really shocked him how little he really found something he could consider his niche? Maybe that's what he was missing was something he could consider his own passion. That was what a Patronus Charm needed right, good feelings and passion. Maybe he could get into Photography?...No...Darren was horribly uncreative.

He looked toward the Entrance of the Castle to se if anyone was coming or going. It was harder to see without a scope. So maybe Cooper could get a better look than he could.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Moose

he smiled lightly at the clap. He was sure Cooper was impressed, but this was the same. It was as far as he could get it. So, while the approval was appreciated the feeling of being just short was still there. It was like being applauded for taking 4th place in a competition. You've done well, and it impressed a few but it wasn't even good enough to take 1st or even make the podium. "Thanks. I still need to get it to form into a shield, or barrier at the least." Baby steps, though Darren just wanted it right the first time.

Was it bad to bring up the Witch Weekly article? Darren would give an arm and a leg to get that kind of recognition. Seeing Cooper turtle like that made him feel a bit bad for it at first. Cooper's response said otherwise. "That's good, great. You've been doing photography for what? Longer than I've know you I think right?"He'd have to go back an re-read the article. Pretty sure it mentions how long he'd been taking photos. To have a passion validated. Darren thought about his for a moment and it really shocked him how little he really found something he could consider his niche? Maybe that's what he was missing was something he could consider his own passion. That was what a Patronus Charm needed right, good feelings and passion. Maybe he could get into Photography?...No...Darren was horribly uncreative.

He looked toward the Entrance of the Castle to se if anyone was coming or going. It was harder to see without a scope. So maybe Cooper could get a better look than he could.

Cooper lacked a certain competitive side that would allow him to fully appreciate the analogy, but he could understand it if nothing else. "I'm still lucky if I can cast a wisp," he chuckled in response. That was another thing about the patronus charm, how exposing it could be. Though he supposed that was true with any kind of casting, but at least with this particular branch of magic there was the excuse of it being particularly advanced magic. Maybe someday, for himself. He was only really starting to figure himself out...so he wasn't in too much of a hurry to rush that process. "So guess I ought to just hope no dementors attack the castle this term."

...which...had happened before...so...perhaps not the best idea to tempt fate either.

Not bad no...but rather the Ravenclaw struggled with praise. He could give it effortlessly, sometimes even finding the tiniest of details to shed light on (also how he liked to take to his photography), but when the role was reversed, well, that was when Cooper the Turtle made its appearance. Phoebe had tried to knock some sense into that as well, though he would always remain humble. "Yeah," he chuckled in response, one of his hands running through his hair and tossing some of his thick chocolate colored bangs out of his face. "I think dad had a camera in my hand before I even had the dexterity in my fingers to grip or hold on anything." He had probably messed up one of dad's cameras once he had started crawling because, as babies do, he put the device in his mouth. "Probably around...six or so is when I really started taking photos with purpose and intent." Taking a quick shot of the grounds, the seventh year pause to think about how that click sounded and how the camera felt in his hand. It still felt...off..so he busied himself with making some adjustments and paused every now and then to simply cradle the camera in his hands to check the vibe. He couldn't explain his process...but it had been something slowly manifesting and intensifying over the years. A feeling and something in the soundwaves of the clicks that told him he had the perfect settings.

"You trying to multitask up here then?" he asked, nodding towards the textbooks near Darren that were not exactly directly correlated to conjuring a patronus.

Trissa waved her hands in the air, indicating that she was fine. It wasn't the first time she'd collided with something. She'd been in the potions lab earlier and had dropped one of the vials on the stone floor. Fortunately for her, it was an empty vial. "I'm fine. I'm used to bumping into things" she gave a light laugh.

She agreed that the last few years had been difficult. With the Neo Alliance taking control of Hogwarts in her second year. The Third Wizarding War that followed. Death, despair and bereavement. Not to mention everyone's personal affairs afterwards. Personally, she had discovered last summer that her father had been dating another woman for months after her parents' divorce. Trissa was fine with it though. If it meant her father was happy, she was happy as well. But it had happened so quickly that she now had a stepmother that it had been difficult to wrap her mind around it. "I understand..." she didn't respond cheerfully but then smiled broadly again. "Well, i think your hair is stylish! Why did you choose that haircut? It looks rebellious" Which wasn't a bad thing in her opinion.

She took a few strands of her own red hair and slightly pouted. "Do you think blonde hair will suit me? Or perhaps brown?" she inquired. "I've been wanting to change my hair as well, but i still haven't found the courage to do it yet" she said, which was ironic given that she is in Gryffindor.

Trissa looked up at the sky, watching the clouds for a moment before returning her gaze to Solana. "So, why are you up here? Are you NOT avoiding homework like i am?" she snorted lightly.

"...........Oh! Maybe i should go all out and dye my hair purple!" she exclaimed abruptly, clapping her hands once. Or was that too over the top?

"Hey, that's some progress. You need good positive thoughts for one. So you might be able to get more than a wisp of a patronus eventually." He was proud and happy about the article from Witch Weekly. Use that Cooper Branxton. Ah nuts. Dementors have attacked the school a couple of times in the past haven't they? Darren really wanted to get this figured out now more than ever. Stay Vigilant right? "If you need any protecting, get behind me and I could probably stop one runt of a Dementor from kissing us both." That's right make light of his own short comings by imagining them both in peril. Great attitude, Darren.

"That's...that's really impressive." Here have some more praise, Cooper. "My Dad was only putting children books into my hands at that age." To be fair, they were his Aunt's and Uncle's children books. Henry's parents were really talented together. Those children books in his hands did turn into a love for reading fictional muggle stories eventually. So maybe there was a similar outcome to Branxton's and his childhoods with what their parents gave to them.

There was silence between them for a moment or two, as Darren just watched his Ravenclaw peer snap some shots, and check on his camera. Darren just continued to look around the Grounds for anything interesting he could spot from a distance. Occasionally he cloud gazed. Still spotting an owl or two flying in and out of the castle.

"Oh? Yeah. I suppose I am." He nodded. "I can only stay trained on History of Magic for so long though. I got Muggle Studies Homework I was gonna tackle next while up here." This was Darren's favorite location to go to, or had he not mentioned?

Solana knew that she had to keep it light, not many people could handle her.. or what she had been through the last few years. Losing her parents in the war, being terrified that she couldn't find them and then coming out into the great hall to see them.. Was not a memory she was likely to forget. She didn't flinch at being in the great hall now.. but.. she didn't like to linger in it.

"Mmmm." was all the acknowledgement she gave about the understanding, she was happier talking about her hair.. That was nice and light.. and she liked her hair.. so "Thanks!! I really wanted a change.. so This is what I came up with." She tilted her head and grinned. "Maybe cause I'm being rebellious? Or.. just wanted to have a little edge? I don't know.."

She laughed softly as Trissa looked at her own hair. "The red is so pretty! But I get needing a change.. I think brown would look amazing on you." She said with a wide smile. "A Slytherin braver than a Gryffindor?" She teased her with a soft laugh. "You should go for it!"

She laughed softly and looked up at the sky. "This is my thinking spot.. I do my best thinking under the stars.." She said with a soft smile.

"Purple? Ohhh... That would be a look."

Solana's 'Mmmm' was enough for Trissa to avoid discussing the events of the previous years. And, to be honest, she had no desire to bring them up as well. Even if her therapist advised her to talk about it with others who had gone through similar experiences. She sighed as she remembered Healer Poppy. Her intention to assist in their healing process had been correct, but her execution was flawed on multiple levels.

Trissa smiled as Solana seemed to enjoy her own hair as much as she did. When she saw someone feeling good about themselves, it warmed her heart. " Whether rebellious or edgy. It's fantastic" she said.

Brown hair... Trissa took her hair in her hand and examined it once more. Her father had brown hair, and she had inherited her mother's red hair. "How did you change yours?" she asked, letting go of her hair. "Did you colour your hair at a barbershop or did you use the Crinus Muto spell?" she GASPED, and her eyes widened. "OR did you colour it by HAND?"

The Gryffindor also looked up at the sky, remaining silent for a moment, something she was capable of doing from time to time before returning her gaze to the Slytherin. "I'm not invading your mental space, am i? I'm sorry if i am..." If she wanted to be alone right now, she could always leave.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Moose

"Hey, that's some progress. You need good positive thoughts for one. So you might be able to get more than a wisp of a patronus eventually." He was proud and happy about the article from Witch Weekly. Use that Cooper Branxton. Ah nuts. Dementors have attacked the school a couple of times in the past haven't they? Darren really wanted to get this figured out now more than ever. Stay Vigilant right? "If you need any protecting, get behind me and I could probably stop one runt of a Dementor from kissing us both." That's right make light of his own short comings by imagining them both in peril. Great attitude, Darren.

"That's...that's really impressive." Here have some more praise, Cooper. "My Dad was only putting children books into my hands at that age." To be fair, they were his Aunt's and Uncle's children books. Henry's parents were really talented together. Those children books in his hands did turn into a love for reading fictional muggle stories eventually. So maybe there was a similar outcome to Branxton's and his childhoods with what their parents gave to them.

There was silence between them for a moment or two, as Darren just watched his Ravenclaw peer snap some shots, and check on his camera. Darren just continued to look around the Grounds for anything interesting he could spot from a distance. Occasionally he cloud gazed. Still spotting an owl or two flying in and out of the castle.

"Oh? Yeah. I suppose I am." He nodded. "I can only stay trained on History of Magic for so long though. I got Muggle Studies Homework I was gonna tackle next while up here." This was Darren's favorite location to go to, or had he not mentioned?

Cooper chuckled and shook his head, one hand combing through his hair and tussling the locks on the back of his head. "It requires a lot more than just happy memories..." he mused, not meaning to be dismissive of Darren but rather realistic about his odds. He had happy memories in abundance, so it wasn't for lack of that. "I'm more gifted with working with my hands, manual labor and such. Spellwork and I get on well enough, but I don't think I have the skill to produce one." At least not the natural talent, which was even more of a finite number than those who worked hard to gain the ability. "But...maybe some day. It would be convenient for sending messages." Again with the practicality and just going to general glaze over the whole dementor and self-sacrificing form of self-deprecation from his yearmate. Just not a thought Cooper felt like entertaining...not to mention the absolute guilt he would feel if someone were to jump in front of him like that and peril follow through.

"Dad was eager, I suppose. Camera or quidditch equipment...the latter did not exactly stick with me, no professional ambitions like him. Probably stressed mum out a bit, tossing me on a broom so early out on the grounds of the loch." Mum had been the reason for the prolonged delay in his attending Hogwarts, which was not a bad thing as her protectiveness came from a good and pure place. But he was very glad he had kept pushing and now himself and his other three siblings could attend Hogwarts. He hated to admit to it but...he was jealous that the others got to start here from their first year. He often felt like he was in a constant state of playing catch up because he had not been so fortunate.

"Good luck with that then," he smiled, attention back to the camera and a couple more shots taken. He had finished his History of Magic on the day, which was a subject he tended to breeze through in any case. Though his current methods for completing essays were to write things in the form of an epic poem reminiscent of Homer and Virgil. He was honestly waiting for the day that Professor Holden got exhausted by it all and told him to resume writing the standard essay.