Good Morning, Hogwarts [OPEN]

[smallfry55]

Melissa groaned as the sun's morning rays struck her face, sucking her out of her peaceful dreams and into the light of reality. Mel flipped over onto her stomach and pulled the blankets over her head in an attempt to fall asleep again. Her efforts were soon wasted as she felt a large lump jump onto her bed. Mel reluctantly sat up and stroked her fluffy white cat Snowbell, or as Mel liked to call her, the furry alarm clock.

With a yawn, Mel dragged herself out of bed and down the stairs to the Gryffindor common room. As she had figured, nobody else was awake yet. Then again, nobody else probably had a cat who just so happens to enjoy sitting on your head in the morning. It was also a Saturday, and the other students would want to sleep in. She settled down in her favorite chair by the fire, and out of the corner of her eyes saw Snowbell trotting down the stairs towards her. Not long after Melissa found her lap occupied by what looked liked a large white puff-ball.

Melissa absentmindly stroked Snowbell's back, planning in her head what she would do today. She suddenly noticed how hungry she was. She drew out her wand, pointed it towards the girl's dormitory, and muttered,"Accio Apple!". The red apple that she had sneaked out of the Great Hall yesterday came flying towards her. Melissa grabbed it and took a bite, storing her wand back into the pocket of her robes.

[Marlene McKinnon]

"I'm sorry it took me so long, I'm sorry it took me so long..."

It was one of those lazy days. The kind Marlene always had and made her feel good, because sleeping in late was not overrated, no matter how much her father decided to say so. Therefore, it was with a great cause that her perky nose was wrinkled in distaste as she watched the hour in her nightstand. Seriously, eight am, Marlene? she scolded herself, dragging her feet to the edge of the bed with a huge effort. It was one of those lazy days that were designed for her to get up at 10 am, not one minute early, not one minute late. But apparently, her mental alarm clock had gone bonkers on her, so now she was stuck waking up at this insane, Merlin forsaken hour, with only her roomates' snores for company. Rolling her eyes at the tackiness of it all, she threw back the covers and finally stood up, popping her neck a couple of times as her arms stretched in an attempt to reach the ceiling. With a huge yawn, she sauntered over to the washroom, towel flung over her left shoulder.

A practiced hand had made getting ready in the mornings a feat that proved to be too unchallenging for Marlene McKinnon. She was out in less than ten minutes, when in earlier days, she didn't get out until after an hour or so had transpired. "That's what you get with expertise, darling," the mirror spoke up, eyeing Marlene's Glamours critically and then nodded in appreciation. "You've got a good hand, love." Marlene giggled and threw her towel over the golden lined mirror, managing to ignore its indignant sqwaks. She figured she wouldn't be receiving compliments from that mirror any time soon. With a careless flip over her shoulder of her long, brown hair, she opened the door to their dorm. Wincing when it creaked, Marlene shot a covert look to her still sleeping room mates, and smirked when she saw that only one of the fidgeted at the noise.

Safe in the knowledge that no one else had woken up (though she had no idea why she wanted to be the only one up, it would only prove to be dreadfully boring), she skipped down the stairs, her boot clad feet making almost no sound at all as they came in contact with the wood. Marlene wasn't exactly alert for anyone else to be in the common room (who would be at this hour?), so when she arrived there, she didn't look around, opting instead to zoom directly for her favorite loveseat. It was well worn, but she could swear it was the only piece of furniture that showed some kind of taste by its buyer.

Therefore, you can imagine her surprise when an apple zoomed right past her. Yelping, Marlene sat up, blinking wildly as she looked around the common room. She sighed in relief when she saw that the Summoning Charm had indeed come from a human hand, not from one of her mind's paranoic inventions. "You scared the Merlin right out of me!" she squealed.

[smallfry55]

Mel took another bite of her apple, staring in the the dancing red flames of the fire. She wished someone would hurry up and wake up, she was bored out of her mind. Snowbell, on the other hand, appeared to be enjoying the attention she was receiving, as she was purring loudly on Melissa's lap.

"You scared the Merlin right out of me!"

Melissa bolted out of her chair in surprise Marlene yelped behind her, sending a rather angry Snowbell tumbling to the floor. "What? Oh sorry..." she said, glancing at the apple in her hand. "I didn't know anyone else was awake yet." She bent down and tried to pick up Snowbell, but the fluffy cat just hissed and swiped at her hands with razor sharp claws. She was still angry with Mel for dumping her on the floor. "Suit yourself.." Melissa mumbled before standing back up again.

Her blue eyes wandered around the common room a few seconds before settling back down in her chair by the fire. She pondered for a few moments on what to say, and finally decided to say,"So, what are you doing up so early? Don't you normally sleep in on weekends? I'd still be asleep if it weren't for this cat." She shrugged towards Snowbell, who had contented herself with a chair on the other side of the room.

[tchorse]

"Good morning!" Said Beth in a sing-songy voice. "Are we all having a good day so far?" Beth's morning peppy-ness annoyed everyone within earshot. She had always been an early riser.

"Mel, your up early.." Beth knew Melissa wasn't the person you would see early in the mornings on weekends. "What's gotten into you?" She said as she reached down to pet Snowbell, who just hissed, and ran away. "Catching up on schoolwork," asked Beth. "I know I am. No lazy weekends for me!"

Next thing she knew, Snowbell and Simon came tearing through the room, making a ton of noise. She let out a little giggle as she picked up her cat. "So if you planed on doing any studying today.. It's a beautiful day outside.. You think we should go outside to work?"

[nikki]

{I supposed that Scarlett, Melissa and Bethany would be roommates since they're same house same year...if you want me to change, tell me.}

The first thing Scarlett thought of as she opened her eyelids was how nice it really is to lie in the bed, sprawled on the soft mattress, covered by a blanket, wearing comfortalbe pyjamas. That was the casual Scarlett, the Scarlett that didn't care what anybody else thought. But that girl didn't last long-soon she was replaced by another, grumpy Scarlett. Grumpy because she imagined the state of her hair-it always got all tangled easily. And she imagined how she had to have a shower, brush her teeth, wash her face until she stopped looking sleepy and find some decent clothes to wear for the remainder of the day. Oh, what a wonderful world. Sarcastically, of course.

But, she pondered, it is still early, and nothing can prevent me from laying here and daydreaming just for a little while. Delaying the gussying up session...delaying the inevitable, to be more exact. Still, she chose to do exactly so. Colsing her eyes, she let thoughts float in and out of her mind. Term Ball. She needed a date and she was going to get one. James Potter or Sirius Black, yes. Or that Ethan or that Kalib guy or Regulus Black. One of them it had to be. Remus Lupin would do, too. All of a sudden, she felt very angry with every other girl in Hogwarts-why did they all fancy Sirius? And James?

Scarlett was not going to let that stop her, though. She liked getting what she wanted, so, she'd eagerly call every Hogwarts girl a bitch if that would get her a relationship with Sirius Black or James Potter. A real relationship, though, not just one date. All the girls would hate her then, but she'd hate them back, and when she hated somebody, she could get as vile and as vicious as a Slytherin. Actually, when she gave it a better look, she could've done real well in Slytherin. Not that she would've wanted it, then she would have zero chances for...

Pushing away from her bed, not happy with her thoughts, Scarlett headed to the bathroom. When she came back into the bedroom, she was in her underwear, and quickly found a pair of tight jeans and a tight, light pink T-Shirt. Yeah, she liked pink. And it went along well with her hair. Deciding to leave lipstick out, she went towards the Common Room. Three girls were already there, girls she recognized, of course, two were on the same year as herself and were her roommates. Plopping down onto the sofa, she greeted them with a slow wave; "Hello, y'all." She smiled at Bethany, "And no studyng today! OWLs may freely stand on their heads if they mind it-I'll have my free weekend." An expression more serious crossed her face, "Besides, I need to find a date for the Term Ball."

[smallfry55]

Melissa looked up to see one of her best friends Bethany Meyers enter the room. "So if you planned on doing any studying today.. It's a beautiful day outside.. You think we should go outside to work?" Melissa laughed at Beth. "No way, I'm not going anywhere near books today." She said, throwing Beth and exasperated look. How could anyone think of studying on a Saturday?

Then Scarlett entered the room. "Hey, Scarlett!" Mel called over to the fellow Gryffindor 5th year. "Besides, I need to find a date for the Term Ball." "When is that, anyways?" Melissa asked her, for she had totally forgotten about the ball that was rapidly approaching. She thought with a groan of how she had yet to get a date.

Snowbell, who appeared to have finally forgiven Mel, hopped into her lap again and stared into the fire. Melissa stroked her soft white fur, pondering in her mind who she hoped would ask her out.

[tchorse]

"Hrm.." Mumbled Beth. "Getting dates and having fun, or.. Studying on a Saturday.." She weighed the options on her hands. "Alright fine. You guys win. I'll be normal this weeked, but tomorrow I need to get in some serious study time. Beth immediatly regretted her descision to not study. Grades were extremely important to her, as she was constantly reading. But these were her friends. How on earth was she supposed to turn them down?

"But if I fail even a single exam, it's all your fault!" She said as she left out a little giggle. Even if she failed, she could never be mad at Mel and Scarlett. Now Beth had moved on to thinking about the ball, and who she would go with. It's not that she was nervous that she wouldn't get a date, but that she's end up going with somebody she didn't extremely care for.

"So who are you guys hoping to the ball with?" She asked timidly. She honestly didn't like discussing things like this. It always made her nervous. What if they were all hoping to go with the same people? What if they started to fight? Beth couldn't stand fights between friends. If she was lucky, everyone would like a different person. She began playing with her hair, as she awaited patiently to hear what Mel and Scarlett had to say about the matter.

(Sorry.. Not the most lengthy post..)

[nikki]

Scarlett grinned with a victoriously smulg smile as Bethany gave in. She was fully ready to take over the responsibility if she failed-because she knew Bethany could never possibly fail an exam. Voldemort would sooner marry Dumbledore. That scene, Voldemort on his knees asking Dumbledore to marry him over a candle, made her smile turn into a sincere one from a smug one. Of course, she had to share that little thing with her friends. Scarlett would often say random, funny things without explanation; not because she thought one would not be needed, but because she found them funnier that way. Giggling, she spoke; "I just imagined this: Voldemort on his knees asking Dumbledore to marry him...over a candle, during a romantic dinner..." Then she added, "That would happen sooner than you failing an exam, Beth."

Her mind quickly moved back to the ball. When Melissa asked who were her and Bethany hoping to go with, she bit her lower lip slightly. Okay, she could freely say that much. You don't go to balls only with people you crush on, right? So, she was going to say it. If they only dare to suggest that she actually likes...as, LIKES any of them, she'll start screaming. While actually, she did crush on the first two guys she mentioned when she opened her mouth; "Ummm..." She faked thinking, "Sirius Black or James Potter." Then the rest of them, "The other candidates...That Ethan Cartier...or Kalib Hemlock...or Regulus Black." Actually, she knew them all by heart, but she'd appear stupid or obseesed or something if she just blabbed their names out in one sentence.

Wow, she saw, I have to Slytherins on my list.Would they even consider her? Of course they would. They had to. Not all the Slyths were that bad. Hoping that Mel or Beht would not accuse her of having feelings for any of the boy she listed, she quickly, perhaps too quickly, asked; "You?"

[tchorse]

"Haha, very funny Scarlett, but that still doesn't mean I shouldn't study. Everyone's gotta study!" Although secretly in her mind, Beth shuddered as the fact of failing an exam crossed her mind. Something bothered her about the fact that Scarlett had Slytherins on her list of potential dates for the ball.

"Oh, and about the ball, I didn't plan on going with anyone." Though she was lying through her teeth. She desperatly wanted to go with James. And she actually liked him! Though the thought of a fight arising, right here would be atrocious. "So you had Kalib on your list?" Beth asked. "But he's a Slytherin." She said. "I mean, it's not that there's not a chance, but they typically stay clear of us." Beth knew right now that that couple wouoldn't work out.

"Anyway," Beth said with a yawn. Maybe I should go outside to study later." She didn't care what they had to say. She had to study. Saturdays were for people who knew the meaning of the word 'fun', and she deffinetly didn't fall under that category.

Just then she realized she had been standing during the entire conversation. She grabed a comfy looking chair and pondered what would happen if the sudden chance she actually did go to the ball with James arised. What would Scarlett say? Beth got up to go study and decided to return later.

[Marlene McKinnon]

"Your famous words started once your fingers hit the 'snooze'..."

Marlene's lips quirked up in a small smile. She would have ventured a bigger one, but she knew that if she opened her mouth just a fraction, a huge yawn would burst forth, and she definitely didn't want to crack her jaw in public just now, thank you very much. So it was all for their sakes really. Though, her response was cut short when two girls (though Bethany did enter first) pranced into the common room. What was up with these people?! Didn't they know what hour it was? Were their clocks wrong? Did they actually wake willingly at this hour? You definitely had to be kidding. It was...not healthy. Marlene shook her head minutely, blinking incredulously for a couple of seconds before she snapped back to her vain self. "Well, hello to you too, Bethany," she said, her right eyebrow shooting up at the lack of greeting from the younger Gryffindor girl. She would be lying if she said it had hurt her, but they were supposed to be friends. That was a common courtesy.

Pretending to curl her lip in disgust at the thought of studying, Marlene slowly shook her head, as if reprimanding the younger girl. Clucking her tongue, she spoke up with a mischievous smile tinting her lips. "I thought I had taught you better than that, Beth love." She didn't have much time to keep up the constant stream of chatter though, as another girl stepped in. Marlene once again shook her head at the early risers. These girls, really! But she didn't speak up again as Scarlett (that was her name, right?) mentioned the Term Ball.

Ah, yes, of course, she thought, mulling over that quietly. That was the next big thing coming up, wasn't it? And she hadn't even thought about her date! Horrified, Marlene's mouth opened a fraction of an inch, her eyes wide. What was she to do? It wasn't as if she was worried, but normally she huffed over a Ball for weeks without end. How could it have escaped her mind just like that?

When Scarlett mentioned the names of the guys she wanted to take as a date, Marlene's eyes narrowed minimally. Right, she thought with uncharacteristic dislike. As if all of them would invite her. She knew for sure, that at least one of the names she'd listed wouldn't ask her. Ethan was so smitten with Indigo that it would take a whole pack of angry Hippogriffs to make him notice anyone else. If Marlene (who was normally ten miles away from earth and definitely a thousand away from Ethan if she could help it) could notice that, so should Scarlett. Sighing she started to mull over the event.

She would have to go shopping soon, that was for sure. And perhaps she would pin up her hair...? Ah, there was so much planning to do and so little time. "I, personally, don't care if I don't take a date," she spoke up, her lids fluttering open and shut a couple of times as she looked at the other three girls in the common room. Two of them she knew fairly well, while Scarlett...well, she hadn't talked that much to the girl at all. "So long as I have the attention of all the other girl's dates," she joked, giggling to prove she was only kidding.

[[ooc: Scarlett! Sorry for the animosity Marlene's demonstrating toward your charrie. I had an idea for a plot, and I hope you don't mind ]]

[tchorse]

"Oh, sorry. Hi Marlene," Beth said shyly. She honestly hadn't seen her standing there. She had been so quiet! "I didn't see you there," she said as she nodded to her friend. "I kinda ditched Mel in the courtyard, so expect her to come storming in at any second." Beth wondered if Scarlett would yell at er for attempting a study break aymore.

"So Marlene," she said as she got up and walked toward her. "Who do you hope to go to the ball with?" Beth hoped on everything that Marlene would not say James. Anyone but James. Even a Slytherin would be better then James right now, but who was she to judge. She also wondered if anyone had noticed her little white lie when she said she hadn't planned on going. She watched the clock and counted down the seconds until Mel came in and began carrying on about how I had left her in the courtyard. Jokingly, of course. "Maybe you should try and get Sirius to ask you, Marlene," Beth suggested. "He's not so bad."

Beth felt her stomach rumble. She was hungry... Time for a delicious and not so nutricious breakfast. "Accio Chocolate Frogs" She ripped open the packet that contained her favotite candy, and popped it in her mouth before it could hop away. Not exactly the breakfast of champions, but it would have to do. Maybe she could eat one of Mel's apples later. "Anyone want some?" She asked as she brought over a whole box of Chocolate Frogs. "I've got a ton!"

[nikki]

{OOC: I don't mind having an enemy. I hope you don't mind if Scarlett dislikes Marlene as well. And I'd love to hear your plot idea! }

As Marlene spoke, Scarlett's eyes turned towards her and scanned her. It only took a few seconds for her to form an opinion. Now, Scarlett liked to believe she was one of those who didn't form opinions of others before really meeting them. However, she was wrong, even though she lulled herself into believing otherwise. She'd often judge people at first glances. Like Marlene. Scarlett felt there was something stuck-up about the girl, although she barely heard her speak a few words. Somehow, she was sure that, even if Marelen would speak a thousand more completely different, she'd still feel the same about her.

She didn't care if she didn't get a date, eh? Hmph. As if someobdy was going to believe that. Every girl cared if she had a date or not. Scarlett herself, who was a master at lying to herself, could not be forced to think she didn't care if she got a date. Why, if she didn't, she would not appear at the ball at all. She just didn't think she could bare it, seeing everybody else with boys and herself, all alone...Not that it was going to happen, she said to herself determinedly. I will go with someone, and it will, by God, be someone decent. Even though she realized the last words that came from Marlene were a mere joke, she felt angry. Did she honestly think all the guys would look at her?

The next person to anger Scarlett was Beth. Why don't you ask Sirius? Was she insane?! Didn't she know that...Oh. Why, of course she didn't know. Scarlett had not told anybody. But hell, what if Marlene really got to go with Sirius? That made Scarlett's blood boil, but she didn't show it. She wanted to change the topic, and change it quickly, before Marelne seriously considered Beth's words. Although, now when she looked back, they had probably been a joke. The chocolate frogs proved an excellent distraction, at least for the time being.

And she would even be telling the truth! Scarlett honestly couldn't understand how people could eat whenever they felt like it and whatever they felt like eating. She knew that she couldn't, not without feeling guilty afterwards. Her diet was not unhealthy, and it helped her keep her body in perfect shape. So she let out a sigh; "You know I don't eat chocolate that much...during special occasions only!" She said with a smile. Yes, she'd only eat tons of sweets during holidays; Christmas, Halloween, New Year.

[smallfry55]

[Melissa never left the common room ]

Melissa, carefully this time, picked up Snowbell and put her on the floor gently, and stood up. She shook her long side bangs out of her eyes. "Oh, no thanks, Beth. Chocolate and I don't go together too well at.." She glanced at a clock hanging on the wall. "7:00 in the morning." Melissa yawned again before taking another bite of her apple.

Mel was glad that everyone had forgotten to ask her who she wanted to go to the ball with. She had no idea what she would say if someone did remember, for she was too embarassed to admit who she liked. Melissa was never one to go around blabbing her secrets.

She sat back down in her chair and continued to nibble on her apple, contenting herself with watching Snowbell jump around Beth's feet for her to put Simon down- the two cats were best friends. With a sigh, Mel realized that she had eaten her apple to the core. She looked down at her still rumbling stomach. "I think I'm going to head down to breakfast soon." She finally said, glancing towards the portrait hole that served as the entrance and exit to the Gryffindor common room.

[Sorry for the icky post o.o]

[tchorse]

[darn it mel, i was gonna post!]

Bethany noticed an angry little Snowbell at her feet. She set Simon on the floor and the two tore off. Then she grabbed the last Chocolate frog in the basket. She opened the package, and let it get away. "Darn." She mumbled. Oh well. She didn't need that much chocolate in the mornings anyway. Boy, was she tired. She could almost feel her eyes half closing. "Is anyone besides me super tired?" What a dumb question. It was 7:00 a.m. Of course they were tired. Every normal person was. Though she usually woke up early, not on Saturdays! She then turned her attention to Melissa.

"So Mel," began Beth, "I don't think you got around to telling us who you wanted to go to the ball with?" She wanted to put Mel on the spot for two reasons. One, it would make her more nervous and she's make sure she said something that would not cause a fight, and two, simply because she wasn't very nice to anyone, not even her best friend, at 7:00 in the morning. She started staring at an apple that was beside Mel's chair. Maybe some health food would do her good. "Oh yea, and Mel, do you mind if I have that appl sitting on the table beside your chair?"

After Beth requested an apple, she stretched herself out longways on a burnt red chair and stared out into space. She was bored yet again, and decided to read a book. She descreetly opened the book and glued her eyes to the pages, reading word for word. Maybe nobody would notice and give her a lecture about what weekends are for. "Weekends are for fun!" They all say. Well reading was fun to Beth. It's not like she was studying or anything. She would deffinetly go out and do something fun later.

She then turned her attention back to Marlene, who as well, hadn't stated who she would be going to the term ball with. Hmm... Smart girl. Avoid the question. "So Marlene, Mel, Scarlett.. What do you all plan on doing today?" She stopped staring at one spot and started looking around the room at random. She spotted somebody's hairbrush with blonde hair in it, a quill (but no ink), a lost sock, and a charm. Possibly to a bracelet.. Hmm.. I Spy really isn't a one player game. "Hey, anyone missing a hairbrush, a sock, a quill, or a charm from a bracelet?"

[Marlene McKinnon]

"Just nine more minutes please. They all know where to find me..."

"You random, random girl," Marlene said affectionately at Bethany's last comment about somebody missing some objects. Now, she understood it was too early in the morning to function, but she stopped herself from asking about their earliness in general and just rolled her eyes at Scarlett. Seriously, these girls... She didn't have anything against Beth or Mel, since they were good friends already, but this new blond? She was not getting in Marlene's good books. And Marlene always liked everyone...in general...few exceptions. Ok, so perhaps she could be too judgmental at times, but she felt she was entitled to it, since she considered herself a good character judge.

"It's rather typical to want either James or Sirius, don't you think?" Marlene asked, the question not directed to anyone in specific apparently, but out of the corner of her eye she was waiting to see Scarlett's reaction. So far, she'd been the only one to speak up about who she wanted to take to the Ball, but in all honesty Marlene thought the girl was being a little too vain. Of course, that was rather hypocritical of her, yet again, but that didn't stop her from thinking it. "I would prefer to take someone who would only look at me that night," she continued sweetly while she pretended to yawn and stretch. It was too early to function.

"And considering that is rather a tough thing to manage, I think flying solo is a brilliant idea." Standing up, she smiled brilliantly at all the girls present. Smoothing her robes and patting her hair in a random fashion, Marlene sighed theatrically. "There are so many things to do," she started, walking in the direction of where Bethany was seated, eyeing the book the girl was reading in a distasteful manner. "And wasting our time," she plucked the book from Bethany's hands. "Reading is not an option, Beth, darling." She closed the book and magicked it away, secure in her own trunk. Marlene found reading positively tedious and boring when one could be doing so many other things. The possibilities were endless! And she felt that by reading you were narrowing your horizons incredibly. "Now, be a darling Beth, and keep your mind in the actual conversation. Who do you want to go to the Ball with?" she asked intelligently, an eyebrow arching up in a skeptical manner. "And Mel, don't you dare leave us when the conversation has turned interesting," Marlene protested with a little pout.