OPEN - that's a pretty face...

[Narcissa Black]

"...the kind you'd find on someone that could save..."

It had been a long day. One of the longest Narcissa had endured recently and it had put her on edge. Her nerves were taut, and when she had snapped at Severus for no apparent reason, she decided it was time for a break. Of course, not being able to leave the grounds did input some limitations on her desire to go the family Manor, so with that hope utterly squelched, she had set out for the Lake. If she couldn't have the grand vista of her own personal lake, she would have to settle with the one that Hogwarts possessed. Not quite comparable, but it would have to do. There was something about the shimmering in the water that managed to calm down her rotten nerves. And right now would be the perfect time to get that soothing effect into action, before she ended biting someone's head off. That wasn't so uncommon either, but right now she was in no mood to be arguing with some random stranger. Most probably she would end up casting an Unforgivable and she was much too young to be in Azkaban, thank you very much.

So with a sigh, she had settled beneath the shade of a tree, her fashionable and highly expensive robes fanning out around her legs. Excess of cloth seemed to be in for this season, and who was Narcissa to argue with the high designers? Nobody but another rich girl who had too much time on her hands and too many galleons to spare. Raising a hand to shield her eyes from the setting sun, she tried to fight the wave of sleepiness that sprung up from nowhere. It wouldn't do for her to fall asleep in the midst of a bunch of students that harbored strong feelings of dislike (hate was too strong a word for her to employ) towards her and wake up hexed into a mass of boils. Wrinkling her nose at the thought, Narcissa shifted uncomfortably. It was true. There were more than enough people at Hogwarts who wanted her gone. Of course, most of them were the mudbloods and trash of the Magical World, but still, one had to be constantly alert. It was tiring and ridiculous, and maybe that was the reason she was in such a sour mood. Perfect. Another thing she could blame on the rest of the world instead of herself.

Her eyelids fluttering close, Narcissa didn't even notice when was it that she drifted off to sleep. She was weary and pretty soon she would be alone. After all, she was only in her fifth year at this damned school. How she couldn't wait for it to be over. Nothing particularly interesting kept her there, except perhaps her goal to become a Potion Mistress, but what was that? She'd gotten into enough arguments about it already... There were too many preoccupations clouding her mind, and unawares, Narcissa drifted off to sleep with a frown marring her brow. She'd deal. Somehow, she would.

[brett]

Regulus headed out onto the sprawling grounds of Hogwarts. He had spent most of the day in the library glued to a potions book. The subject fascinated Regulus, the things you could do with potions, the possibilities were near endless. One potion may kill while another may save a life. There was one potion: Felix Felicis that would grant the drinker incredible luck. This was the potion that caught Regulus' eye to be able to control something as unpredictable as luck, you could never have a bad day again. Of course like with all potions and really all things in general Regulus knew their were consequences for overusing it.

Looking at the small notepad in his hand which he carried around to write down potions and spells he liked. The page he glanced at while he walked had all the ingredients of the Felix Felicis potion written with underlined warnings like 'overuse=reckless overconfidence' he laughed to himself reminded of Sirius as he read that. also a double underlined warning that said 'wrong=disaster' as the book had mentioned that it was difficult to make and an improper mixing could yield very poor results.

Tucking the pad away back into his robes he found that his wandering had lead him to the Black Lake. He had been about to settle under a nearby tree when he spotted someone that looked rather familiar a bit of a way off. Moving closer to investigate he found that his assumption had been correct as he recognized his dear cousin Narcissa sleeping beneath a tree. Well Regulus couldn't be sure she was sleeping but she had her eyes closed and wasn't moving. Regulus moved down close to her, "Bit of a strange place for a nap," he comment hoping he was close enough to her ear that his voice would wake her otherwise he may have to resort to some magical mischief to wake the sleeping beauty.

[Narcissa Black]

"...if they don't put me away, well, it'll be a miracle..."

She wasn't exactly napping. At least she wouldn't call it that. Much less admit it to her cousin, so when he heard him speak up and her pale eyelids flew up, Regulus had only scared her, that was all. Narcissa Black wasn't found to be napping at The Lake of all places. Sitting up and trying to stifle a yawn rather unsuccessfully, Narcissa shot her cousin a look, before smiling at him. The gesture was rather stiff, as she had been on the brink of falling into a deeper slumber, but that didn't make it any less sincere. She rather liked her cousin, even if he was Sirius' brother. Thankfully, he wasn't that much alike him, so she had come somewhat attached to him. He was one of the few people who had yet another year to spare at Hogwarts, and for that, Narcissa was grateful. Perhaps next year wasn't so bleak after all.

"I wasn't napping," she said with a sniff, realizing at that moment that her hair was probably disheveled, and raising a casual hand to smooth it out. That was what she got for dozing off in the middle of the place. Thank Merlin it had been Regulus who had found her. She refused to imagine what would have happened if anyone else had come upon her while she was off in Morpheus' arms. Jinxed out of her robes, she would be. Taking a deep breath, Narcissa lifted her eyes to meet Regulus' her cheeks tinging the lightest shade of pink to be caught sleeping. "'Tis been a long day, that's all," she murmured, running her fingers through the folds of her robe and willing herself to be calm and collected. Feeling the reassuring presence of her wand inside her sleeve, Narcissa breathed a mental sigh of relief. She probably could've been pick pocket'd while she was sleeping and wouldn't have noticed it.

"I'm surprised I still have my wand with me, Regulus. You surprise me," she drawled in a playful manner, indicating a spot beside her so that her cousin sit down beside her. She was still in no mood to be in the midst of a throng of people, so she preferred the calm of the place, even if sometimes there could be heard an echoing shriek of some random girl who didn't have anything better to do than disturb Narcissa's sense of peace. Why was she so stressed, anyway? It was pointless. She knew there wasn't anything to gain by stressing and well... It was all pointless.

ooc: ack, short & rather un-interesting.

[brett]

"You should know by now I'm just full of surprises," Regulus smiled taking a seat next to his cousin. The thought of taking her wand had never really occurred to him, stealing wasn't quite his thing. Reg cast his glance out over the calm waters of the lake. Narcissa was probably lucky he had been the one to come across her as not everyone seemed to get a long with his cousin...then again they all didn't get along with him either. Strange how the Slytherin's were the narrow minded ones when every other house was just as judgmental of them.

"I have to say it surprises me to see you out here," Reg smiled. He wasn't accustom to seeing his cousin actually enjoying the Hogwarts campus, though he knew she had her reasons. "How have you been lately?" Regulus asked looking to catch up with Narcissa. Of course he had seen her around and in the commonroom and such, but it had been quite sometime since they actually had the chance to talk. It would be nice to see how things were going for his favorite cousin.

Regulus coiled his legs, so that they were slightly bent at the knee while he waited for a response. He always found this to be a more natural and comfortable arrangement than having his legs straight out or crossed Indian style beneath them. He ran a thin hand through his soft dark hair taking in the fresh air. He felt the inside of his pocket to ensure the notebook was still there, thankfully it was.

[Narcissa Black]

"do you believe you're missing out? that everything good is happening somewhere else?"

Narcissa smiled slightly as Regulus took a seat beside her and twirled her wand between her fingers, a slight habit that was always entertaining. "Are you?" she questioned rhetorically, smirking as she eyed her cousin out of the corner of her eye. He was older than her by a year, and yet she couldn't bring herself to think so. To her, Regulus had always been an equal, someone she could look in the eyes and still dare him. Not that she didn't do so with the rest of the people, but it was easier when it was someone your age. Less risks, of course. She rolled her eyes at his next comment though. Not at him, but because it was strange for her to be up and about Hogwarts' grounds. More likely than not, she was always found inside the castle. Not that the murky interior held any kind of interest over her, but the vistas the place offered were something that hadn't impressed Narcissa since she was a first year, and being around people she disliked was not her forte. Especially if she had her wand around. "Well, let's just say I do have my moments of weakness and boredom," she answered lazily, her lids drooping against the glare of the sun, shielding her blue gray eyes against the intense rays.

She pouted when, in a moment of distraction, her wand clattered to the soft ground underneath her, but she didn't reach for it, choosing to let it rest there as she sighed yet again. A common ocurrence, lately. Listless. That would be a perfect way to describe her as of late. She hadn't hexed anyone lately, something that would most definitely irk Bellatrix to no end. She hadn't even had a verbal argument with anyone. Narcissa had chosen to keep a low profile lately, and even though it was a bit slow, it was suiting her just fine. Later, she would throw all of herself out there. But for now, being listless was just fine.

"Bored, mostly," she said. It was a complaint, but it didn't sound so. The nonchalant manner in which she said it didn't rely the fact that she didn't like it. "Trying to ignore Andromeda's attempts of reconciliation with Bellatrix and trying to convince Trix herself that I am, in fact, not interested in her matchmaking attitude," she said with a casual wave of her hand. She left out the name of the wizard Bellatrix was so eager to convince Narcissa into thinking it was the best match for her. No need to go spreading that around. Even if she trusted her cousin, she didn't trust the people that surrounded them, anyone might be paying too close attention to the newly striked conversation. "She is more stubborn than what people give her credit for," Narcissa commented, her eyes narrowing a fraction as she remembered Bellatrix's attempts of persuasion. She was sure it wouldn't be long before the black-haired witch figured out a way to completely cage her into accepting what she so doggedly insisted in. "What about you? I haven't seen you around much lately. Any news from...home?" Her pause was a short one, deciding not to give up her hesitancy to touch that specific subject with Regulus, but they were family, weren't they? Things had to be shared around for their own sake.