It's Snowing {Open}

[Seth Lestrange]

By the grey over cast sky it was obvious that it snow was coming, Seth knew it well. He had grown up in England, living around mountains of ice, snow, and frozen slush. The familiar bit in the air was only a small warning, the real one was the color of the sky. It never seemed to get that grey in any other season of the year, it was a winter thing. His dark brown eyes traced the bare ground which was covered in puddles and some slushy snow left over from a few days ago. He had missed the snow than, and he had missed the first snow too. Seth had been inside on the those days, he remembered that much at least, but the details seemed to escape him. He didn't care if he couldn't remember, that was what his life was all about: drowning the memories and denying the future. The past was to close on his heels for him to even confront what would come. His sense of excitement had been ruined at an early age, being denied all the childhood fantasies and figments from the time he was five and onward.

Despite these realities, he was sure that he had been happy once before that night. He had to have been, because why would it affect him so much. As Seth walked around, in a small circle, contemplating all that was in his head at the moment the sky broke. It started to snow. It came slow at first, but than it sped up some, and when it did, it caught Seth's eye. He dropped all thought of the past and focused on catching the small flakes of white in the palm of his black gloved hand where they melted upon arrival. He had forgotten the fun of the snow and how occupying it always was.

[Natalie Smith]

Natalie had been at the quiddich pitch, practising her game. She had just started heading in when she looked up at the sky. Grey, she always knew things had to be ugly before they were beautiful. You had to have more pain before you could get over something, she knew that even more. She smiled, the ugly sky could only mean a beautiful thing: snow! Snow was coming.
And she was right. A couple minutes later tiny flakes of snow began falling to the ground. She smiled and danced around. Then the snow fall came heavier and her smile grew right along with it.
She spun around in the snow, not paying any attention to where she was going. She was wearing jeans and a T-shirt with a sweat shirt on over that. The sweat shirt was a cross-country one, one she had gotten for a team she used to run for, before she came to Hogwarts. Before Hogwarts the only way she could escape was sports. But she wasn't thinking about the past, the future, or even the present. Right now she was letting her mind tune of for a while and letting her eyes explore the world around her, the world that would shortly become a beautiful world of white.
As she spun around and around, she knocked into someone and fell to her feet. She quickly got up, and took a step back from the boy she had run into. A slytherin, and one she didn't know. She knew some could be friendly, and some the opposite. So she just said,
"Sorry." And waited to see what would happen.

[Seth Lestrange]

Seth was nearly knocked off his feet too when Natalie bumped into him, he didn't really weigh much and he didn't have great balance at the moment either. Everything was a little offbalance for him because he had had a couple drinks the night before. "Yeah." Came his response, it wasn't a quick one, just a slow and measured as if he had thought about it before responding as he did. "That's what they all say, but a good half of them don't mean it." His words came slow and nearly slurred together in a heavy British accent which he put on for the act. He was waiting for her flood compassionate offense to take action before he truly admitted that he didn't care at all and he was just kidding. It was things like this that reminded him that he was alive at times and that people really could see him. He eyed the girl, waiting for her reaction to his words, wondering if they would hurt her or if she would just brush them off and walk away from him. He had never cared much for his image or his reputation which was probably why he was at such a lose when he met new people like her or any other.

The snow continued to fall forming piles, however small they were now they would get bigger in the morning and that in itself was a small comfort for Seth to know that life went on outside his own head. He eyed a pile for a moment as if contemplating his next comeback or move. If she brushed him off and mirrored his first reaction than he might just leave, but if she did in fact show some concern and compassion than he would reveal the nasty joke for what it had really been. If she brushed him off after that, than he would just walk off. He played these scenarios in his mind's eye as he waited for her reaction, all the while putting on an innocent face, as if he were really up to nothing.

[Natalie Smith]

Natalie eyed him, trying to figure out his story. He wasn't a usual slytherin that's for sure. Some of the ones she knew would just brush off her apology and leave her... but he had his own personality. More like a book that could never be opened. She thought for a couple more seconds before responding.
"Well I don't know about the rest of them. But I mean everything I say, apology or other wise. Maybe I don't think before I act, But I think about what I say."
There, that was okay. Standing up for herself,yes. And letting him know that she was apologiesing and did truely mean it. The truth as well. She was often labled party girl, or the foolish one. Doing things before she knew the consequences. Speaking on the other hand, she always payed attention to that. One thing completed but several more still left.
His british accent was another. She always had hated that she didn't have one like her father. Nope, she was stuck with a southern accent just like her mother. Sometimes she liked it, and other times she loved it. He had a British accent, so that automaticly gave him a point, even if he turned out to be Dr. Evil. Heck, if Dr. Evil had had a cool accent maybe she would have liked the movie more.
Maybe she should just wait to see what he would reply before rushing to conclusions.
Yah, natalie you idiot! Sorry Sorry, she said defneding herself against herself. Instantly she felt even more like and idiot. She decided to give the snow some attention while waiting for his responce.
The snow was forming now, and sticking to the ground. Some places it piled up more then others. And in some areas the ground was still shown. She could just imagen tomorrow morning. She would wake up and rush outside to see the winter wonderland. She grinned gazing out at the snow. Sometimes it felt good to escape the little box she was when she thought. Just like dancing or reading. You can escape. Great, she could escape the world and she could fly. But now the only problem was the ability to break away. Turn her back on the world and leave, a thing she had always dreamed of doing. But she knew she could never muster enough strength do to so.
She put her hands in her sweatshirt pocket, it was pretty cold out. But she didn't care. A person filled with mystery was before her and the snow was falling down faster and faster.

[Seth Lestrange]

Her response caught him off guard a bit, he was waiting for her to snap at him, although he didn't know her to well, he usually expected as much from the opposite sex. He knew that his mother would never let him to talk to her in such a manner, and most of the other girls that he knew would porribly jump him for even indicating that they didn't really mean what they were talking about. He arched a brow and tossed his head to side, letting a large clump of black tosseled hair that had been covering his left eye to fall to the side for a moment so he could get a better look at this girl. Finally his reply came, in the same heavy British accent and the same slow concalculated tone, "Than you are one of the few that care." Seth had been sizing her up more than actually checking her out, he had never really looked to hard at a girl, even if his intentions lay elsewhere past friendship, he just causually looked them over. He was strange alright, not average by any definition. He watched her carefully wondering what was going on in her head. Seth knew well that his last remark had possibly just killed the conversation altogether because there couldn't be much of a constructive reply to answer it with. But this girl was still a stranger to him, so she could still come up with something creative.

His brown eyes switched staring towards the brown grey white ground... or rather the slushy snow fall mixing in grey with the brown patches of still exposed ground. Decaying grass lay underfoot it all. It was amazing how nothing could grow in winter, but everyone was still surviving under meters of slush and bitter cold tempertures. Seth stretched a little, spreading his arms out near his sides before jabbing them deeply into his side jacket pockets. He was a little cold, but it really wasn't bothering him much. He liked the cold.

[Natalie Smith]

Natalie stared unblinkingly at him while he did the same to her. She smiled slightly, he was trying to read what she was thinking. Suprising that he couldn't figure it out. Her deep brown eyes almost always gave away what she was thinking. But maybe the reason they didn't betray her this time was because she wasn't even sure what she was thinking. Her eyes drifted to the sky and she left them their while he responded.
Nothing she didn't know. Yes she cared, and perhaps a bit to much. She cared about everyone wether she liked it or not. Her father had always said it was her lead fault, but her mother had been just the same. Now she was caring about a boy who she didn't even know the name of! She was out here in the cold taking to him, well if you could call it talking. And it wasn't only that she cared, she was to curious for her own good.
She sighed, and thought for a moment about what she should say in responce.
"Yes I do care. But maybe I shouldn't as much. That's what everyone tells me..."
She turned back to him, man, they were both really terrible at starting conversations weren't they? Oh well... maybe sooner or later they'll get it down and be able to talk.

[Seth Lestrange]

"I can believe that." Seth replied, fighting hard to make sure that his voice didn't succumb to a state of muttering. He knew that a conversation was killed once he started muttering replies. There was still hope for this one, if something interesting came up. He thought of one of the dumbest questions in the world first to start conversation off with, and than let it slip past him like tires on wet concrete. He was going to ask something like 'do you live around here?,' but it occured to him that she looked younger than him and porribly attended Hogwarts too. Besides why would she be on Hogwarts grounds if she didn't? He laughed outloud, rather loudly for laughing at himself. Despite this small slip of such a crazed emotion... or something that could be cateogorized as one, Seth coutinued to conduct as he normally would... or as close to normal as it ever got for him. He knew that there was no way that she could have missed his slip, and his loud laugh, so he waited for her reaction. He guessed that she would do one of two things, ask him what he was laughing about, or just walk away or even run away thinking him insane.

[Natalie Smith]

But Natalie did neither of those, as she has said before she was very different from those around her. She took his laugh to mean something else, and ignored it. Maybe he had a joke with himself, or was enjoying himself. Either of those made more sence then him being mentally ill. Anyway, what was it he just said? oh yes, he doesn't believe that. He didn't believe that's what everyone told her? Well that was one thing. She looked back at him her brown eyes trying to see what he was thinking in turn.
"I don't lie. Even though I might run from the truth"
Why was she being so honest? She didn't even know they guy! God when she wrote to her mother she was going to blame her for her being honest and kind.

[Seth Lestrange]

"I didn't convict you of being a liar." Seth replied, his voice still a steady calm. There wasn't a hint of annoyance or firmness in it, just a small note of surprise that faded as quickly as it had come. He looked at her strangely for a moment, wondering why she hadn't even made a remark about his laugh, before pushing it aside again. He figured that she had reasoned that it was best to ignore it. It was in his nature to do random things like that, but since she didn't know him at all he was sure that she didn't know that. Somehow his last remark had caused him to stand upright a bit more, when his head would have faltered and fallen to the ground it didn't. The toe of his black boot kicked around some white slush that had freshly fallen, turning it grey the instant it came in contact with the muddy surface beneath.

[Natalie Smith]

"okay then, sorry." She said a smile back on her face.
She went back to looking at the pale sky. As soon as she had looked at it, she was lost. Her smile stayed the same but in her mind's eye it was much larger. She had a tendency to loose her train of thought and drift away, mostly in the times where it would be best not to. She sighed slightly as she came back down to earth. She laughed aloud as well, her mind still on the skys bove but her eyes looking at Seth.
Great, now she lad laughed as well. Inside she was yelling at herself, but outside she was trying not to laugh again. Another thing about Natalie, once she started laughing or crying it was hard to stop.

[Seth Lestrange]

Seth walked over to a nearby bench, a black wrought iron one like the ones sometimes found in muggle parks. Hogwarts had a few, they had been stragetically positioned on the lawns for people who walked way to much and wanted to take a seat. Or it might have just been for others to sit feed the pigoens and watch the view. Seth didn't know and he wasn't sure if he cared, he just felt like taking a seat. It was the first snow of the season, or it seemed like it to him again, and he was already tiring of standing in one place for to long. It was hard for him to sit still too, so when he took a seat, as Natalie busied herself with laughing and staring, he first climbed onto the bench and sat on the back board, where one would usually rest back against. His placed his feet in front of him, knees bent and a foot dangling over the side of the bench, where one would usually sit in a regular situation. He hated seating on a bench the proper way, he hated sitting the proper way period. It took to much unecessary energy to sit up correctly, even though the same could be argued of his current position, he thought it was more comfortable. He never minded when people stared at him, he knew enough to pass it off as a human habit. A stupid one, but something that was hard to ignore and attempt not to do. Leaning forward, and placing both elbows on his knees he gazed at Natalie through a large tuft of black hair that had fallen over his left eye and was making quick progress to sit in the middle of his face.

[Natalie Smith]

Natalie watched curiously as he took his seat, in a fashion rarely seen. More points, he doesn't care what people think of him. She smiled and turned around, her back now facing him. She watched the lake for a while. It was at that perfect point where it wasn't completly frozen, but the water was still and in the middle of solid and liquid. After a while she lay down. Again, not in the most normal way.
She placed her elbow on the ground and then rested her head on it, so she could see the sky, Seth, and the lake. Then she crossed her legs so one was supporting her weight on the ground and the otehr dangeling above it with the inside of her knee cap resting on her other knee. Once she had done that she slid back and with one movement put her hair up in a pont tail with one hand.
She didn't care what people thought of her either, and was much happier that way. She tried to imagen what it would be like if she cared about her every move. Or if she were to worry what shoes would go with which outfit. It dazzled her, and she could never figure out why most girls put in that amout of effort just to empress guys or other girls so maybe they would be accsepted. Natalie's motto, or motto of the month, was if people don't like you the way they are their missing out. You shouldn't have to change just so someone will notice you, maybe that person is just blind, after all, everyone's beautiful. Just in some people it takes a while to find that beauty.
She reached up with her free hand and clutched her moon necklace. The whole world seemed to disappear again, she was happy and content right here.

[Seth Lestrange]

Seth was no longer looking at Natalie, his mind seemed to have driven him to stare eslewhere. His eyes now bore into the grey sky that was quickly getting darker as the snow fell faster. Small white specks were now sprinkled throughout his black hair, looking rather odd at a distance. He didn't mind it much but when one melted dangerously close to his scalp he would raise the occasional hand and smooth it over, letting the cold wetness of the first melting snow wash into him. Seth had always been a very distant person because he always busied himself with something than the reality that should have been occupying his time. It was mostly about the past for him. And on this particular day, the sky seemed to him the same on that fateful day so long ago. His eyes seemed to flicker a moment glazing over with hatred and something that could be described as horrer or even sadness. Fear was a powerful thing, and it usually took hold at the most inconveniant moments. If a man like his father could be brought down so easily, than why shouldn't everyone else be? People were to vulnerable to deserve such a fragile thing as the gift of life and offspring. Seth's mind worked quickly over these thoughts, turning them over slowly in his mind, examining every view point and every aspect of it. To him his theory seemed perfect now. Nothing could tarnish it, something could even touch it.

[Yeah, so it's a little dramatic.... but I'm very off today because it's New Years XD...lol]

[Natalie Smith]

(lol. 's okay. gives me something interesting to read)

Natalie continued staring up at the skye for a while. Then she was jerked back down to earth by a sudden feeling she couldn't discribe. She had often had it though, and she knew relitivly what it meant. The last time it had been when her best friend was trying to get a hold of her. She had gotten herself in trouble, as usual and needed Natalie to help her. But it had only happened when she was with people she knew well. She looked around, not knowing what she was looking for. It dawned on her that she was looking for one of her friends. Someone who would explain the feeling. Then she remembered Seth, wow how could she have forgotten she wasn't alone.
She sat up, not sitting properly and watched him with the corner of her eye. Something wasn't right with him, he was not happy with something. Either that or someone... maybe he was upset she had come out her. Or not, she thought trying to stay positive.
But then she realised what ever it was it wasn't her buisness. But it was a battle she was going to loose. She often had this fight with herself. Should she get involved? And she knew which side always won.
She walked over to Seth and after a moment asked.
"Is everything okay?"

[Seth Lestrange]

[It's 12 am and I am still not with it... neither is my next post o.o]

Seth had a frequent tendency to blend well with his surroundings, a little to well at times. He was easily lost in a crowd or not seen on a deserted street, if he was noticed, he was just one of 'those people' that tended to always hang around at that specific spot when in reality it was his first time there. The snow seemed to fall faster around Seth, although he barely noticed it, his mind was still working quickly through ever possible scenario. He had been through it all before. More than once and definitely more than just twice. It seemed to play back in his mind far to often to be considered just a 'normal' comfort, it was more of an obsession. Something brought him out of his daze momentarily. The girl that had been standing with him earlier who had wondered off to lay in the snow was now by his side again. He raised an eyebrow, not even beginning to wonder what she might want or need from him. Her voice came on quickly, and shoaked in with the same amount of speed. She obviously thought that somethign was wrong with him. Well anyone could tell her that if she had alreayd heard the rumors ging around. "No, I'm not fine really." Seth replied. It was the truth. He didn't mind it much, he told the truth when it came down to a quesiton like that all the time.

"I was actually thinking of getting smashed. Do you want to come?" Seth asked before he could stop himself. The concept had occured to him before, he needed something to clear his head, and right now being low on pot and all wasn't the best thing. Drinking was cleaner in a sense that it would always leave the system faster. He knew that his invitiation was extremely blunt, and that there was a good reason for her not to accept but it had been done on a whim. He really wasn't looking for anything in particular, he had just been planning it for some time, and she seemed like the type that was hard to shake once you met. He wouldn't really mind company either, it was always good to drink with someone else rather than just drinking alone. He knew that he could have invited Gemini, but he doubt that she would want to come with him today. Especially so early in the day. He didn't care much, he just felt like it now, even if it meant that he was going to be passed out drunk by 10 pm or earlier.