| Chimaera
Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Baker Street
Posts: 30,278
Hogwarts RPG Name:
Marcus Briody Cole
Graduated
Hogwarts RPG Name:
Nadia Atreyu-Rehman
Gryffindor Seventh Year  x8  x8
|  Toothless - Napoleon of Crime - Gryffinclaw - Owl Emissary - Pirate Auror - DoctorDonna
It takes a long time to grow an old friend.
His house wasn’t exactly the place he thought it might be.
Sure they were friendly and supportive and he had a few housemates he could consider friends. But their academic tendencies as their mutual house was known for sometimes lead to the occasional competitiveness between members or altogether social awkwardness, at least that was what Nigel picked up in his first two years at Hogwarts. Maybe the awkwardness was coming from him really as he was still unused to being part of a group that cared as much as they did. Whatever the case the young Ravenclaw boy found himself trying to fit in or find a niche somewhere that he felt completely comfortable other than his house where he could get lost in the crowds as an underclassman.
The library of Hogwarts offered that place, its numerous shelves housing hundreds and thousands of volumes on things he had never even heard of. But still there was a calling for something more. It wasn’t until his first potions class and the homework thereafter that Nigel was beginning to see something new. His muggle mother was a scientist, his father…his true father he had learned was a doctor. So the sciences were in his blood and as he got more and more into the art of potion making with each passing lesson he realized he might too follow in the area.
More trips to the library were needed. Brewing potions was one thing, to learn of the actual process was another story, especially seeing as he was still learning on the level of a first year. Nigel was curious of things beyond that level, feeling more and more to be like the rest of his eagle fellows. And so he made his way down from the Ravenclaw tower to the fourth floor, careful of the changing staircases that seemed to always like to slip him up.
“Hello Mr. Balfour,” the librarian greeted him as he passed the front desk. The woman knowing better than to ask if he needed help seeing as he was more than willing to ask if he needed such assistance. And had done so enough times before.
“Hello Madame Remora,” Nigel returned offering a polite nod as he headed off to the main part of the library. The large cavernous room gladly relatively quiet. Perfect for some light reading, if one considered sometimes ancient potions texts as such. The way to the section that housed said books was becoming almost second nature to him and as expected…empty. Scanning the shelves, the second year spotted an interesting title, taking it off the shelf and propped himself at one of the alcoves to read.
Nigel was so engrossed in his book he hadn’t noticed when an upperclassman had entered the aisle, apparently franticly looking for something. “How am I supposed to get this assignment done when I don’t even know where to begin looking for information on the ingredient in question.” The Hufflepuff boy mused aloud as he looked along the shelves. “What…what ingredient?” Nigel tentatively asked, taking his companion by surprise as he apparently hadn’t noticed his presence there sitting in a corner.
"Caladium…” he answered, “you wouldn’t happen to kn---no, you probably wouldn’t.”
“It’s a bulb isn’t it? Probably find it in McGaritey’s book…third shelf.” Nigel replied, himself trying to remember things. He wasn’t sure but it was better than nothing.
The Hufflepuff raised an eyebrow, watching him curiously and glancing over at where he pointed before looking back at him once more. Back to the shelf and then at Nigel before finally deciding to take the chance on the advice of a younger student. Sure enough, when he picked out the book in question and turned to the index at the back of its onion-thin pages, the ingredient he was looking into was indeed listed within. “I don’t believe it…” he murmured almost to himself as he turned to the coordinating pages, his face brightening in triumph before finally turning back to him.
“Thank you. This is a big help,” he said to me, the now-closed book in his arm as he held the other out to offer a hand shake.
“Daniel Petrov.” The introduction was unexpected for the upperclassmen weren’t always seen as the most friendly to the younger ones especially outside their own house. Maybe it was a Hufflepuff thing.
“Nigel Balfour,” Nigel returned giving the offered hand a shake. Perhaps there was something more to be done but the Ravenclaw wasn’t exactly the most outgoing.
“Nice to meet you. Gotta go though. Thanks again Nigel,” Daniel remarked offering a friendly smile before heading out to check out the book and go wherever it was he needed to be.
It was to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
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