Sitting in the Common Room (Open)

[parisbathgate]

Paris was sitting in a chair by the fire in the Common Room. It was sort of late but not exactly. Last time Paris checked it was about 9 O'Clock, but she doesn't know how long ago that was. She found it hard to keep track of time, and right now she didn't really care.

Many people were sitting around in the common room, having chats with their friends, laughing and just making alot of noise. Paris earlier on started reading a book, but she was quite, fussy, when it came to books. She got bored of them very easily. This certain one did not interest her at all.

No one that Paris knew very well were in the common room at the time, so Paris was extremely bored. She got bored very easily. That wasn't particulary good, as she often got stuck being VERY bored, and she also wasn't very good at making decisions, so she never knew what she wanted to do.

So Paris was just basically sitting there, looking at the fire burning away. She really ought to make more friends she thought to herself. She had a few, but not Heaps. Maybe having heaps of friends could really help her.

[Kingsley Shacklebolt]

Kingsley was sitting in a corner, re-reading through his charms notes for the fourth time. Preparing for his N.E.W.T.s was a living nightmare, especially with the noise of the Common Room, but there was no way he was about to let a moment of slacking off ruin his chances of being accepted into Auror training after graduation.

Still, this didn't mean that he was particularily good at studying. Most of the time he just appeared to be deep in thought, poring over his notes. In reality he was deep in thought, planning how to get his next shipment of Firewhiskey into the castle.

He looked up from his small, scribbling handwritting and blinked a few times, rubbing his eyes tiredly before staring into the fire. He caught the sight of motion out of the corner of his eyes and noticed a young girl, maybe a first or second year, sitting in a chair by the fire. He watched her for a moment, trying to figure out what she was doing.

Reading? Not really. The book she had was slightly closed.

Waiting for friends? She didn't look as if she was waiting for someone.

Bored? Most likely.

Deciding that he should be a nice Prefect - and giving into his slight penchant for being nosy - Kingsley rolled up his notes and moved to the sofa in front of the fire. As he sat he unrolled his notes and smiled at the girl.

"Hey there. Kind of noisy in here tonight, isn't it?"

[Hestia Jones]

Hestia was just putting the finishing touches on her potions essay. The girl's dorm was unusually quiet and this helped her concentration. Hence, her finishing the essay two days early. At this point, she usually would've found Alice or Marlene and drug them out for a run or something. But she supposed she could go lounge in the common room.

When she got there, she realized why it was so quiet upstairs. Apparently, everyone and their cousin wanted to hang out in the Gryffindor common room today. Hestia sighed. This night was going to be a long one. Especially since, out of all the people in the room, she couldn't find a single friend or acquaintance of hers,

Hestia decided that maybe heading to the kitchens would be more beneficial. Making her way (more like shoving) towards the portrait to leave, she spotted Kinglsey Shacklebolt, one of her extremely good friends. She smiled. Finally, maybe the night wouldn't be so bad after all. She hurried over and took a seat next to him before it was quickly taken.

"Hey Kings. What's going on?" Hestia smiled, relaxing a little.

[Kingsley Shacklebolt]

Kingsley beamed at Hestia, glad to see someone in the Common Room he really wanted to be around.

"Hi there, love. Just studying hard." He tapped the notes he had unrolled in his hands. "Or is it hardly studying?"

He leaned back in his seat, putting his arm up on the back of the sofa. He really was pleased to see Hestia, and aside from the fact that he felt like he almost had to project his voice to be heard, he was quite content at the moment.

"I'm glad to see you, it seems like ages since we've had a moment to just chat. How are you? Have you spoken to Alice or Frank lately?"

[Hestia Jones]

"With you, it's probably hardly studying." Hestia said, laughing openly. That was one of the good things about Kingsley and the small group they had. They were the only ones that Hestia actually loosened up around. She smiled and relaxed into the sofa.

"It has been too long since we've all just had a moment to hang out together. We need to get our group together soon. I haven't really spoken to anyone. Not even Marlene! We've all been so busy finishing up our studies so that we can graduate and what not. My brain has turned to mush. I don't know how I'll become an auror at this rate." Hestia sighed, but smiled despite herself. She was really going to miss moments like this. Just lounging in the common room, pretending to study, but only concerned with when you're going to Hogsmeade next.

[Kingsley Shacklebolt]

Kingsley huffed and shook his head. "Oh dear Hestia, you doubt yourself far too much. If any one of us is destined for Auror training it'll be you that makes it. I'm sure you study three times as much as I do." He sniffed, then raised his chin cockily, mockingly pretentious. "And we all know how wonderful at school I am."

"But in all seriousness, you need to relax from time to time, lighten up a bit." He looked around, feigning sneakiness, then leaned in closer to Hestia. "You know, I have a flask of Firewhiskey up in my dorm. What say you to heading out to the Forbidden Forest and blowing off some steam, eh?" He wiggled his eyebrows as he spoke, for extra oomph.

[Hestia Jones]

"Yes, your genius puts all others to shame." Hestia nudged him with her elbow and laughed. "And I'll have you know, I am a very laid back person." She held her chin up in the air and looked the other way, mockingly prideful and stubborn.

This comment of his also led to her to actually considering his suggestion. Any other time Hestia would have scoffed at the idea of drinking in the forbidden forest, but for some reason, she was feeling unusually adventurous and restless. And, she wanted to prove that she was laid back and she could lighten up. "Well.....okay. But if we get caught, I'm telling them that you threatened to kill me and forced me to do this."

[Kingsley Shacklebolt]

Kingsley had to remind himself to close his mouth after it started to drop into a big 'O'. He had been mostly joking when he suggested they grab his flask and go for a walk to the woods, but he got over the shock very quickly and instead chuckled, the deep sound vibrating in his chest.

"If, by some slim chance we get caught, you have my full permission to tell them I made you do it, but let's leave out the killing part - I have a reputation to maintain, and I very well can't get into Auror training if I'm locked up in Azkaban."

Of course, he really shouldn't have been joking about such things. Wizards killing one another was serious business these days, but Kingsley had always had the habit of battling tension with humor.

He stood up, pulling Hestia up from the couch at the same time. "I'll go get the stuff, you get a blanket, and meet me back here in two minutes." With that, he ran up the stairs to the boy's dorm.

[Hestia Jones]

Hestia heaved herself up with Kingsley's help and gave an excited nod. She practically skipped up the stairs to her room to grab the extra blanket she kept. She also grabbed a jacket, a couple of candles, and some pumpkin juice she kept stashed in her trunk. She decided that since she wasn't a heavy drinker that she could mix it with the whiskey.

Hestia made sure she had everything she needed and quickly hooped back down the stairs to meet Kingsley. Luckily, the common room and started emptying and not too many people cast her curious glances. After all, she looked awkward standing at the summit of the boys staircase, practically bouncing with excitement, and carrying an odd assortment of things.

[Kingsley Shacklebolt]

Kingsley stepped up the stairs to his dorm, taking them two at a time and busting through the door. He raced to his trunk, opening it and throwing on the leather jacket his parents had bought him two Christmases ago. He loved this jacket, and even though there were a few scratches on the right sleve it still looked great on him. He slid the top panel of his trunk back, opening the secret compartment where he kept his flask.

He took it out, looking at it almost as if it were his first born child. It was brilliantly polished silver, with a dragon wrapped around the entire length. He opened the cap and sniffed, almost faiting with delight as his eyes watered. This was a good batch. He took an obligatory starting swig, shuddered, recapped it and stuck it in his jacket's inner pocket.

Kingsley closed his trunk and almost ran into one of his doormates as he yanked open the door. "Sorry mate!" he called before bounding back down the stairs. As he got near the bottom he slowed down, trying to look inconspicuous. He smiled at Hestia and took the blanket from her, offering her his arm.

"Shall we, Ms. Jones?"