Autumn Song (Open. Please join me!)

[Tessa Verity]

It was one of those last few days of the early fall where it wasn't cold outside, where the air was brisk and cool and refreshing, and while there was a promise of rain or snow later, it was beatiful outside now, and Tess couldn't help but steal away for a few moments to spend outside.

She tucked her school books into her bag and wandered into the courtyard, smiling at the feel of the air on her skin.

She sat down on the edge of the fountain, noticing someone sitting on the other side, though she didn't see who it was, and took out a book that she had prematurely put away.

[Ivan Kresimir]

Ivan sat in the courtyard against the fountain reading a book softly with his sister laying next to him on the ground listening. It was a book of poetry but his sister usually didn't mind what he read. He just had been trying to soothe her when she'd been upset about something. Unfortunately she wouldn't tell him, but sometimes Anya could be stubborn if she wanted to. He suspected his cousin had said something to upset her again but there wasn't too much he could do if she wouldn't talk to him about it. He'd noticed Anya talking to another boy lately too. She'd seemed to be making at least one friend. He hadn't caught the name yet but he recognized the boy if he saw him. He worried about his little sister sometimes, she was so gentle and fragile sometimes, you'd never guess the secret burdens she carried.

He continued to read some Romanian poems not noticing the girl who had sat down nearby.

[Anya Kresimir]

Anya smiled listening to her big brother reading in Romanian. It reminded her of home and although she didn't miss their old school, she did miss home. Her cousin had begun asking her odd questions about the kids she'd begun being friends with and it bothered her. She didn't want her cousin knowing anything about her friends, why would she have an interest in them anyways? She sighed and closed her eyes listening to the gentle voice of her brother. He was always there for her, always able to sooth her fears and protect her when she needed it. Her thoughts drifted off to Remus Lupin though... his eyes were familiar and gentle and she she felt a close friendship forming with the boy who shared so many things already with her. He was the only other one she could talk to openly and not worry about what he would think about her. He already knew her secret, and he too shared the same one. She smiled softly.

[Leilani Evetts]

Lani had a similar idea that the day was beautiful and she should enjoy it. Besides, she had a lot on her mind, and she needed to get away from the Slytherins for a while. She couldn't really face Rabastan as it was, or Devin, for that matter. It wasn't embarrasment... that she could handle. But thanks to the two of them, she had a mental image of Lyra and Rystain that she couldn't wipe. And she couldn't say anything because she had told Rystain she was fine.

She sighed, sitting down next to Tessa.

"They have a beautiful language, don't they?" She asked the Hufflepuff. Listening to Ivan read to his sister was relaxing even her.

[Tessa Verity]

Tessa looked up when Lani spoked to her, and then looked over her other shoulder to see the new transfers. She watched them for a moment before she returned her attention to the Slytherin and nodded.

"Yes, it's very poetic." She spoke quietly so that she wouldn't interupt them, and she gave Lani a smile. She looked like she was troubled. Actually, no, she had the look of someone who knew they were standing on the edge of a precipice, about to lose their balance.

"Are you all right, Leilani?"

[Leilani Evetts]

Lani listened to the two siblings for a while longer before she let her eyes trail back to Contessa. "Yes, I'm fine," she replied shrugging. It was such an incredibly beautiful day that she thought it would clear her mind.

"What would you give to have that?" She asked, still talking about the brother and sister on the other side of the fountain. She didn't want to interrupt them.

[Tessa Verity]

It was boy problems, she realized when Lani asked that question.

She smiled and chuckled softly, trying to lighten the mood. "What, the brother or the foreign language?"

Or a relationship where you could sit with someone speaking to you in another language, making everything just slightly whimsical, and make everything better. She believed in love, believed in relationships, and yes, she wanted that too.

She put her book away and motioned to Lani for them both to just listen for a little while.

[Ivan Kresimir]

Ivan slowly finished reading for the moment an nudged his sister who seemed to be daydreaming or sleeping he wasn't sure. "Anya, you should go get some rest. You look tired. I am sure some of your new Gryffindor friends wouldn't mind your company either. Besides if I don't move soon my legs will fall asleep. Be safe, meu soră." He spoke the endearment for 'my sister' in Romanian and kissed his sister's forehead as he worked to stand again.

[Anya Kresimir]

Anya nodded slowly as she stood up and her small petite frame stretched up to work out her muscles. It was actually quite a shock at how much smaller than her brother was. He was built like a mastiff and she was more soft and dainty. She had long legs but was otherwise slender and with a petite frame.

She had begun to doze off and knew he was right. But then she turned and noticed the two older girls sitting nearby. She smiled shyly at them. "Hello"

[Tessa Verity]

Tess smiled at her. "Hello. What was that your brother was reading?" Her eyes shifted to Ivan, a friendly, welcoming look in her eyes. "It was beautiful."

She turned to face the girl a little more directly. "You'vejust transferred, right? I'm Tessa... Hufflepuff." She held out her hand to shake the younger girl's.

[Anya Kresimir]

Anya looked at Tessa with almost innocent green eyes and smiled, "He was reading me Romanian poetry by Nichita Stãnescu. My name is Anya Kresimir, I'm.. Gryffindor, and my brother is Ivan, Ravenclaw." She said trying to imitate the introduction that Tessa had used. "And yes we are new here, it is a pleasure to meet you Doamna Verity." She greeted her in normal Romanian custom out of habit.

[Leilani Evetts]

Lani smiled at the girl, adding her own name into the mix when she was done introducing herself.

"Well, then we have all four houses represented. I'm Lani, Slytherin." She tried to get Ivan involved as well.

"Ivan... you're on the Slytherin Quidditch team, aren't you?"

[Ivan Kresimir]

Ivan nodded at Lani, "yes, keeper." he replied in his normal quiet answer. Like most Romanians, he was very quiet when meeting people until he became friends. And even then he was quiet, until he became close friends. His sister was the only one who saw him relaxed and talkative.

[Leilani Evetts]

Lani nodded. "Yes, I thought so. I'm a chaser for Slytherin," she said. "You're very good."

She turned back to the other two girls. "It was nice talking with all of you. I think I'm going to head inside though. Enjoy the day."

[Ivan Kresimir]

"Would you care for an escort, Doamna Evetts? I am headed inside as well anyways." He asked Lani quietly but like a gentleman. He thought she was very beautiful he noted to himself but he only smiled at her and waited for a reply. If she declined, he would just head back to the Ravenclaw tower and read anyways, he had nothing better to do.

[Leilani Evetts]

Lani wasn't expecting him to ask, but it was nice that he had. To be completely honest, having some company would probably be good for her. It would keep her mind from other things.

"I would love the company, Ivan. And please... you can call me Lani." She stood, waiting for him.

[Tessa Verity]

Tessa waved goodbye to Lani, and then to Ivan, and she smiled at the two, glancing between them for a moment before she turned her attention back to Anya.

"It is nice to meet you, love. How do you like Hogwarts?"

[Anya Kresimir]

Anya watched as her brother left with the slytherin girl, but she didn't think much of it. Her brother was always a gentleman and seemed to make friends fairly easily despite his general shyness. She on the other hand was usually even more shy than her brother which was saying a lot.

"It's much sunnier and relaxing here," she said honestly.. not near as dark and forboding as Durmstrang was. "I am still feeling much alone though, there are not many friendships here yet." She still hadn't quite gotten her head around proper English yet but she was trying. Her brother was the smarter one and he had always been better at English than she, but she was learning slowly.

[Ivan Kresimir]

Ivan nodded to Lani, and although it wasn't customary in Romania to speak a persons' first name unless they were family or good friends, he was still trying to adjust to the customs here in England where everyone seemed to use first names, and often even nicknames. He was used to the rigidity and formality he'd always grown up in, respecting his elders for their wisdom through experience.. and very slow to trust or warm up to a person.

He gave Lani his arm, "Thank you, Lani... I forget sometimes that people are much less formal here than I am used to. But I am hoping that eventually I can overcome that, it is good to meet new people and have friends here. It helps the homesickness."

[Leilani Evetts]

She smiled, taking his arm and nodding. "Would you prefer that I called you by your last name?" She asked. If it would make him more comfortable, she would.

"Are you going back home for the holidays, then?" She asked softly, just trying to make him feel relaxed and at ease. Talking about ones home usually did that.