Need Help? (Laura)

[Roman Jetter]

Roman was frusturated, pulling her hair out of her face with slight tug. She didn't quite understand how potions worked like this? She was never good with math or baking.

In a huff of frusturation, she threw her book onto the couch and stood up over them, worrying about her grade and giving up.

[laura]

Laura had been upstairs in the girl's dormitory, attempting to study for her Transfiguration quiz. She had been studying for less than ten minutes when she had had enough. As she made her way down the staircase into the common room she couldn't help but laugh when she saw Roman chucking her textbook onto a couch. "Something the matter?" she asked as she settled beside the abused textbook.

[Roman Jetter]

Roman jumped, not hearing Laura coming down the stairs. She turned slowly and saw her giving Romanan amused look. Roman started to get angry, but realized she would have done the same thing as Laura. SHe could just picture herself throwing a book on the couch.

Roman gave a small grimace, "I don't get potions. How do these people do it?"

[laura]

"I'm afraid I cant help you there," Laura said apologetically. "I'm not exactly an O student in Potions either." She understood the frustration Roman was feeling at the class, for it was just yesterday that her Strengthening Solution managed to bubble over. To excel in Potions, you needed to pay attention to small details and be very particular about measurements, and Laura had never really mastered either of those. "If you're that stuck though, I could try to help," Laura offered with a shrug. It was the brewing she was horrible at, but she did fairly well on essays and assignments.

[Roman Jetter]

"I don't know who is an O student!" Roman glared at the books in anger. "I can't write an essay at all, and I feel a little dumb." She blew out a strained breathe and regained her composure, "You're pretty lucky that you understand all of this." Roman smiled.

She was looking at her books, and saw a pink shoe. "Oh no!" she gasped.

[laura]

"Well don't beat yourself down over it," Laura smiled back at her. Writing 2 feet on the properties of monkshood was pretty hard to do, and very time consuming. She abruptly turned her head in Roman's direction when she heard the girl gasp. "What is it?" Laura asked, puzzled.

[Roman Jetter]

"There's only one," Roman sighed lightly, picking up the shoe and staring at it. "I lost the other one when I went to the lake earlier."

Roman knew where she had lost it, and why it wasn't in her bag at that moment, but going into details about how awful she had been to him wasn't nessecarily a good idea right now, due to not knowing Laura as well as she should, so she settled with an uncomfortable glance at the shoe. "Thanks, though. I shouldn't be beating myself up. Have you finished the composition yet?"

[laura]

"I see," Laura said with a wrinkled brow. She got the feeling that Roman wasn't going to explain much else about the story, and allowed her to change the subject. "I'm about halfway done," she sighed. "We could work on them together though. I could try to help you get started if you want," Laura offered with a smile. The essay wasn't due for another couple days, but Laura had no doubt that Professor Slughorn would schedule a test within the week as well.

[Roman Jetter]

Roman sighed, "I would appreciate that, but I don't really like to work on homework until last minute... Maybe I'll just pretend I did it." SHe flopped on the couch and packed up her things. "How are you, Laura?"

Roman was geniunely interested. She didn't know Laura that well, and maybe she could get some clues about her interests and such by just talking to her about general subjects. It wouldn't be too hard to read, would it?

[laura]

"Whatever works for you," Laura laughed at her procrastination. It wasn't unusual to see a group of Gryffindors down in the common room late at night, trying madly to finish an assignment that was due the next morning. Sometimes school work just didn't seem as important as other things; like Quidditch or friends.

"I'm pretty good," she responded vaguely, then attempted to change the subject. "Can you believe the first task for the Tri-Wizard Tournament has already begun? I really hope Alice does well." It wasn't that she wasn't comfortable around Roman, it was just that Laura was still working some thoughts out, and until she was sure what she was feeling she couldn't exactly answer that question.

[Roman Jetter]

"I hope so too! I haven't seen much of it, or heard much. But I have a lot of faith in Alice," Roman nodded. "She seems really nice, and I've heard good things about her."

Roman smiled, liking Laura. She had avoided that 'how are you' question, and so something must be on her mind, though Roman shouldn't habve been talking, due to the show thing. Maybe Laura knew Noah, and could help her find it? She didn't think she should ask, maybe it would seem like too much

[laura]

Laura nodded in agreement. "It also helps that she has two more years experience than the other champions." Two more years of schooling meant that Alice had learned more spells and charms than the other three girls, and combined with her Gryffindor traits she was sure to do well.

"So aside from Potions homework, what's new with you?" Laura asked subtly, while shifting her position so her right leg crossed over her left. She didn't want to force any answers out of Roman, but she was somewhat curious as to why a missing shoe could draw such a reaction out of her.

[Roman Jetter]

"You're right, I definately wouldn't want to mess with Alice," Roman nodded. "I wouldn't want to duel many of these people, actually. I wouldn't do too well." She gave a small laugh, and it was right. SHe actually was comfortable with people being better then her.

Then Roman lowered her voice, so the second years in the corner wouldn't hear her say, "I accidentally left one of my dance shoes with someone, and I don't know how to get it back. I'm afraid to ask him. I need it before I go to Hogsmeade for a dance show next week. I have rehersal tomorrow!"

Roman hoped Laura would know what to do, she was worried about her choreography already, and missing practice sure wouldn't help.

[laura]

Laura gave Roman a puzzled look as she explained her situation in a quiet whisper. It was obvious that Roman was stressed out about the missing shoe, and didn't want to confront the person who had it at the moment. She was curious about the circumstances surrounding the strange situation, but forced herself to ask only the necessary questions.

"So who exactly has the shoe?" she asked the girl carefully. "If you really don't want to face him, I could get it back for you," Laura offered with a smile. It wouldn't be a very pleasant situation, but Laura could see that Roman really didn't know what to do at the moment.

[Roman Jetter]

Roman bit her lip, and then said in at a rapid pace, "well, you see, I was at the lake to do my homework, just because, and then I ran into this Slytherin boy. ANd he dumped my bag on my head, and so everything spilled out. I was so mad, I forgot to grab everything! I left the most important thing!" She took a deep breathe. "Noah Malfoy has my shoe. And I don't know what to say to get it back. If you would do it, I would be forever in debt," Roman smiled. "But I understand if you don't want to. I don't like him, and I don't want to force this task on you."

Roman felt really bad saying Laura could do it, she wished she had said she would do it. SHe was at loss for an action, and Laura seemed like the type to get along with most people, so she added, "of course you don't have to. Slytherin boys are that nice to other people, expecially people who are younger."

[laura]

It took Laura a few moments to make sense of what she had just heard- given that Roman had said it all in one breath. She knew of Noah Malfoy, but had never actually talked to him for he was a year ahead of her and in a different house, which didn't give her very many opportunities. Secretly, Laura had hoped that the mysterious person would be someone she was at least friends with, but apparently the universe hated her.

"I've had some experience with Slytherin boys," Laura said wearily, while silently adding particularly the older ones. "I'll do it." She could see that this was important to Roman, and although she didn't exactly want to spend her weekend tracking down Noah Malfoy, she had already promised to do it. And what was a Gryffindor without their courage?

[Roman Jetter]

Roman gave her a smile, "I'm sorry! I shouldn't have asked! You really don't have to!" Roman put her hands over her face, trying to keep Laura from seeing her face turn bright red! "I was so mean to him, and I don't think he likes me very much. So you really don't have to. I'll find a way," she was mumbling into her hand, which muffled her voice enourmously, even though she was already quiet.

She felt ridiculous. Roman hated ebing so shy, even with people she had known for a while. She envied people who could be outgoing and friendly, and she was stuck with being the weird girl who always danced.

[laura]

"No, I didn't mean it like that!" Laura said, feeling guilty as she watched Roman hide behind her hands. "I said I'd do it," she said as she pried Roman's hands from her face. "And I will."

She knew Roman was a shy person, and had a hard time breaking out of her shell. Noticing that the second years in the corner had begun to giggle at Roman's display, Laura quickly sent a glare and patted her friend on the back. "You're already stressed out, there's no reason to add to it," she told her. "Besides I have nothing else to do for the weekend." And it was true, besides some DADA homework she had just planned on hanging around the castle or common room.

[Roman Jetter]

Roman stared at her lap, "I know you didn't, it just seemed like too much to ask. I don't want your stuff getting dumped on your head too. You're a really great friend," she took a chance and glanced up at Laura's face. "I wish I wasn't so shy, then I could do it. It's like I need lessons," she gave a small laugh inspite of herself. "How do you do it?"

Roman pusshed her messy hair out of her face and pushed it behind her ear, letting out a small breath. "I'm sorry for being such a display."

[laura]

"It's no problem, really," Laura said assuringly. Roman really wasn't asking too much from her, all she had to do was convince Noah to hand over the shoe and be done with it.
"I'm not exactly a social butterfly either," she laughed. "I just don't worry what other people think about me I guess." Sure, she valued other people's opinions, but she didn't let what others thought about her hold her back.

A quick glance toward the corner revealed that the second years had resumed their chess game, but every few moments one would peer up at the two of them. With a wave of her hand Laura replied, "Don't worry about them."

Casting a quick tempus charm, Laura decided that she might as well try to track Noah down before dinner time. She didn't have a clue where he hung out, but she decided that one of the seven floors would be a good place to begin. "Well I'm going to start my search," she joked as she rose from the crimson armchair. "I'll see you at dinner." Smiling slightly, she crossed the room to the portrait door and tugged it open. "Save me a seat!"