Grounds: The Great Lake

[Wilber Winterbottom]

The large freshwater lake of Hogwarts is located just south of the castle. About half a mile wide in diameter, the lake dominates much of the school's landscape, a steely and ominous mass of icy water in the winter, yet an inviting and refreshing sight once the weather starts to heat up. On one of its banks, a towering beech tree stands sentinel, and is a popular location to meet and relax. Castle-side of the lake stands the boathouse.

You may swim in the lake, but be careful, and also mindful of the creatures that reside here. Merpeople, grindylows, and the Great Squid, to name but a few, call these watery depths their home. You would do well to leave them in peace. If they feel like it, they'll come to you; the Giant Squid, who goes by the name of Bartholomew Henry, has been known to bask in the shallows on sunny days.

OOC: Please do not RP for the Giant Squid.

[Zoe]

Sixth year felt like a reward after the grind of OWLs. Despite the obvious disappointment his Ma had in him regarding his results, there was a hidden benefit to his scores not being the greatest. While she had lectured him on the importance of taking his studies seriously, his less-than-stellar results meant fewer courses to worry about, which, in Beauden's mind, was a win.

This left him with all the time and energy to pursue other, more interesting ventures. His schedule wasn't too overwhelming; four out of the five classes he was taking were subjects he found fascinating, so he breezed through them. Potions, however, was something his Ma insisted he take and have remedial lessons to nudge that Acceptable grade up to an Exceeds Expectations, but Beauden wasn't particularly concerned.

Arguably, he had too much freedom now, which led him to fill his days with spontaneous adventures. On this particular day, with the sun shining and the air still warm, the lake called to him. A swim while the weather still permitted seemed like the perfect way to spend the afternoon.

His belongings—a tank top, footwear, and wand—had been left on the shore, abandoned in his haste to dive in. Beauden was already in the water, wearing his swim trunks and feeling the cool, refreshing embrace of the lake. He floated lazily on the surface, staring up at the sky, wondering if the giant squid, a merperson, or even a rogue grindylow would make an appearance.

[sweetpinkpixie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoe

Sixth year felt like a reward after the grind of OWLs. Despite the obvious disappointment his Ma had in him regarding his results, there was a hidden benefit to his scores not being the greatest. While she had lectured him on the importance of taking his studies seriously, his less-than-stellar results meant fewer courses to worry about, which, in Beauden's mind, was a win.

This left him with all the time and energy to pursue other, more interesting ventures. His schedule wasn't too overwhelming; four out of the five classes he was taking were subjects he found fascinating, so he breezed through them. Potions, however, was something his Ma insisted he take and have remedial lessons to nudge that Acceptable grade up to an Exceeds Expectations, but Beauden wasn't particularly concerned.

Arguably, he had too much freedom now, which led him to fill his days with spontaneous adventures. On this particular day, with the sun shining and the air still warm, the lake called to him. A swim while the weather still permitted seemed like the perfect way to spend the afternoon.

His belongings—a tank top, footwear, and wand—had been left on the shore, abandoned in his haste to dive in. Beauden was already in the water, wearing his swim trunks and feeling the cool, refreshing embrace of the lake. He floated lazily on the surface, staring up at the sky, wondering if the giant squid, a merperson, or even a rogue grindylow would make an appearance.

Spring was arguably Anna’s favorite season because of the way the earth was covered in a colorful blanket thanks to flowers and just that je ne sais quoi the rays of the sun bathed the world in. That being said, there was something so magical about fall at Hogwarts and autumn’s color palette. Sure, it wasn’t her preferred shade of rainbow but with fall came an appreciation for oranges and browns that she had rarely considered before. It was especially magical right now on the cusp between summer and fall with shades of brilliant green woven in with everything and a crispness in the air like the perfect crunchy apple.

Seventh year was certainly starting out complicated and Anna found herself willingly distracted by her own pressing issues in favor of comforting her closest friends and sorting through the onslaught of ‘teenager’ that had taken her world by surprise. Even studying for NEWT’s was becoming complicated as her eyes wandered between her tutor and textbook. All small delightful dilemmas compared to what she had learned from the Department of Mysteries over the summer and what more she might learn from the Department of Magical Accidents & Catastrophes once she plucked up the courage to make an appointment.

She had come to the lake with the intention of journaling or doing some reading for History of Magic, but the smooth stones along the bank captured her attention and she discarded her bag on the grass along with her shoes and socks to begin collecting these perfect skipping stones. Despite some efforts to teach her, the Hufflepuffle still was not so good at bouncing stones across the lake and more often than not they sunk with the initial throw with a satisfying plop.

The way the sun’s light danced over the surface of the water, covering portions of it in a blinding white halo, meant she did not notice that there was someone floating just offshore. Pocketing the rest of the stones, Anna held one between her thumb and index finger and tried to remember the ‘best’ stance to take with her shoulders leg width apart…or had it been legs shoulder width apart? In any case, she found a comfortable stance and flung the rock out into the water with the expected kerplunk. She tried again with with the same result, two whole skips the second time, another kerplunk on her third attempt (clearly not the charm like so many claimed), but on her fourth try her stone miraculously skipped once…twice…three times and continued to bounce across the surface of the lake…

[Zoe]

Beauden barely registered the rhythm of the water as it lapped against him. He floated aimlessly, his arms spread wide, legs dangling below, eyes half-closed as the peaceful lull of the lake rocked him. His thoughts drifted lazily along with the current, savoring the moment. With no classes to worry about at the moment and Potions far from his mind, this was exactly the kind of day he loved—unpredictable and unplanned.

An approaching sound of something skipping over the water cut through the calm, but before he could react, a flat, smooth object hit him squarely on the forehead. "Oi!" he exclaimed, jerking out of his relaxed position and shifting from floating to treading water. His hand instinctively flew to his head, rubbing the spot where the stone had made contact. It didn't hurt much, but it was just enough to startle him. He scanned the shore, his eyes narrowing as he searched for where had come from.

That's when he noticed her: a girl, standing by the lake's edge with her arm still extended, clearly in the middle of her stone-skipping attempts. She didn't seem to realise what had happened yet, so Beauden swam closer, the water parting softly as he approached, and let his presence be known with a deliberate splash.

"Oi! Watch where you're skipping!" he called out, though there was no real bite in his tone, just a playful edge and a hint of irritation as he rubbed his forehead once more.

[sweetpinkpixie]

Anna was apparently in her 'easily startled' era because the appearance of a, seemingly, disembodied voice caused her to jump back and slip in the wet ground beneath her feet. Thankfully not enough for her to completely fall back but enough so that she nearly performed a perfect split before she composed herself and pushed her wild curls out of her face. "Bar...Bartholomew Henry?" she stage whispered as she tiptoed ankle deep into the water and peered around for the giant squid. Or was her trespassing even more severe and she had just offended one of the merprinces and then she would never get to see Atlantis because she would be outcast for marring a royal of their kind?

Swallowing thickly, Anna reached down and held her skirt up so she could wade out further (just a little over knee deep) and offer her apologies to the merprince without shouting from the shore. "I'm so sorry... I-I didn't see you! The sun's golden path danced across the water in such a way that its honeyed glow camouflaged you in its light," she explained as she continued to get closer but not TOO close that she risked plunging into the lake because, well, she still was not the strongest of swimmers. "I've also never been particularly good at skipping stones...and maybe I should be considering Gobstones after all...but it also really was an ill-timed fluke... so I am nearly as surprised as y---- oh, you're a boy?" She hadn't meant to sound too disappointed but she had just been building up this whole narrative in her head about merpeople and, well, her imagination had entirely taken over and her cheeks were now a pair of blossoming tea roses because of it. "Or...are you hiding a glorious tail beneath all this watery shimmer?"

[Zoe]

Beauden raised a brow, entirely amused as the girl rambled on. His irritation faded, quickly replaced with the same carefree grin that often crept onto his face during moments like these.

As she wove this elaborate story about the sun's golden path and camouflaging glows of light, Beauden chuckled, pushing back his wet hair. "Sorry to disappoint," he said, his tone still lighthearted. "Just a Gryffindor boy taking a swim. No tail, just me and probably a slightly bruised forehead." He paused, letting his words sink in as he waded a bit closer, his grin widening. "But, hey, if you'd rather think I'm some kind of majestic aquatic creature, I won't ruin the illusion."

Her blushing cheeks didn't go unnoticed, and Beauden found himself laughing, though not unkindly. "You nearly had me convinced I was some lake-dwelling royal with all that poetic talk of shimmering light and honeyed glow. You sure you're not a writer or something?"

He reached the shallow part of the lake, standing now, the water just below his waist. "Anyway," he added, with a playful glint in his eye, "next time you're aiming to skip stones, maybe aim away from my head, yeah? My Ma would probably thank you for sparing me." He winked, clearly finding the entire situation more entertaining than anything.

[sweetpinkpixie]

More than a bit of panicked blush painted itself across her face. "Oh, no, not disappointed," she stammered with some not-so-casual flailing of the arms, crossing and uncrossing them in front of her to write flustered X upon flustered X in the air. "And I really am sorry about the skipping stone and, well, I don't have any bruise paste or anything on me and I will certainly be more careful in the future so I don't knock you...or anyone...again...hopefully..." Even though he was showing every indication that he really was not that bothered by the whole ordeal - something she could make out more and more clearly as he approached shrouded in a halo of sunlight which really DID make him look like a mythical being and causing her brain to work even more sluggishly - Anna was already adding 'make it up to The Gryffindor Mermish Prince of the Black Lake' to her mental to-do list. Despite her memory issues, these sorts of things tended to stick so it was highly unlikely she would forget too.

"Oh, well, not a writer just..." she laughed sheepishly as she tucked some stray curls behind her ears and the blush continued to accentuate her freckles - or maybe it was just standing in direct sunlight that should receive the credit rather than the boy in front of her. "I have quite the overactive imagination and it sweeps me up often...and as long as your lower half remains submerged the illusion remains somewhat intact. Well, that is until you use your Mermish magic to give yourself legs so you can join a simple land dweller like myself."

Anna's posture relaxed a bit and her fingers steadied themself by lacing together across her stomach, his carefree spirit and impish smile alleviating much of her distress over the whole situation. Maybe in a little she too would find the whole thing amusing. "I promise," she smile and unlaced her fingers just enough to hold up her pinky for the Unbreakable Vow that was a pinky swear. "Can't be the reason your crown no longer sits upon your head properly."

[Zoe]

Beauden chuckled again, enjoying the way Anna's flustered apology unfolded. Her wild gesticulations, paired with her sincere attempt to make up for the accident, were nothing short of entertaining. "Nah, no need for bruise paste. I've survived worse." His hand dropped from his forehead as if to prove the point. "But I will say, dodging stones might just have to become my new hobby. It'll help enhance my reflexes."

He watched her as she tucked her curls behind her ears, the blush on her cheeks only widening his smile. "Overactive imagination, huh?" he repeated, clearly indulging in her narrative. "Sounds like a fun way to spend your time. I bet you could weave some wild stories."

When she lifted her pinky for the sworn vow to protect his 'crown,' Beauden laughed aloud, still treading as the water sloshed around his waist. "A pinky swear? Now that's serious business!" He considered getting closer to her so he could reach out to link his pinky with hers, but decided against it to maintain the illussion of him being a Mermish prince.

"You've got yourself a deal," he said. "No more crown-threatening stones coming my way." He straightened up a smidge, letting the water cascade off him. "So, what's your name, land dweller? I'm Beauden."

[sweetpinkpixie]

Anna couldn't resist giggling a little bit more, her wild curls dancing in the gentle breeze with each lock a vibrant cascade of warm chestnut. "Well, I suppose it might come in handy if you are the sort who wants some unconventional practice dodging bludgers," she offered as her gaze followed his hand and, well, it was a silent invitation to observe his athletic build which was what had inspired the playful suggestion in the first place. And if he did not play quidditch nor know anything about the sport, well, they would be almost two peas in a pod because Anna did not know the sport all that intimately either other than her innate joy in supporting her friends who played - though she DID know the names of all the balls!

The seventh year's heart fluttered with a delightful thrill, the suggestion that she was capable of writing anything worth reading or providing entertainment like the bards of yore the best kind of compliment that even her freckles seemed to dance upon her rosy cheeks. It really was a magical setting, by the way, with the backdrop of shimmering water and Lake Prince Splish-Splash with the Radiant Halo standing there with such an easy confidence. "Well, not to brag per say but I was heavily requested at bedtime by my sisters when we all were younger," she laughed.

Her pinky wiggled in the air for added emphasis. "Mmmhmm, arguably more powerful than an actual Unbreakable Vow," she nodded sagely. "Though I am not sure of their potency if no physical exchange in the form of pinky finger coiling is made, so you may still be at risk. Unless there IS and ancient Mermish magic that solidifies the power of the promise in spite of the chasm between our worlds and threads the oath like strands of seaweed caught in the tide of life." Not that she would go out of her way to throw rocks at him or anyone for that matter but she was enjoying the quick quibs back and forth along with him indulging in her narratives and waking daydreams. "Hi, Beauden," she greeted with a little curtsey. "I'm Anna of Bexhill-On-Sea and Hufflepuffle."

[Zoe]

Beauden's grin only widened as Anna mentioned dodging bludgers. His eyes sparkled with amusement, and he leaned back slightly, letting the cool water ripple against him. "You've got me there," he chuckled, the sound mixing with the gentle splash of the lake. "Maybe you're onto something with this unconventional training regimen. I plan on trying out for Beater, once I transform my tail into a pair of legs and join you land dwellers, of course."

His gaze followed hers for a moment, appreciating the playful back and forth. When she spoke of being a popular storyteller among her sisters, he said, "Bedtime storyteller, huh? Maybe you could tell me a tale next time I'm floating about here on the surface." His tone was teasing but with a hint of genuine curiosity. "Could use some entertainment while I avoid flying stones," he added with a hearty laugh.

He glanced at her wiggling pinky, the emphasis not lost on him, though he couldn't resist keeping up the playful tone. "Oh, there definitely is," he replied with mock seriousness, nodding as if he were truly some mythical being. "There's a whole system of underwater promises that bind land dwellers to their word—seaweed strands and all. So, you're in luck, Anna of Bexhill-On-Sea, your promise holds strong." A deliberate wink followed his words.

"Nice to meet you." The blond followed her curtsey with a slight bow in return as the calm waves of the lake lapped gently around him. He straightened up, casually brushing some stray droplets of water from his arms. "So, what brings you out here today? Just skipping stones, or did something else call you to the lake's shore?"

[sweetpinkpixie]

Beauden certainly had an ease about him that made his smile even more engaging, a presence that effortlessly lightened the sunny lakeside and almost rivaled the sun's reflection upon its waters. Almost, it was really hard to compete with the sun! She couldn't help but giggle at the whole scene and the story they were weaving together - it was her favorite part of her friendships with Solomon and Aurora, the way they seamlessly could 'yes and' with one another and it was refreshing to find such kindredness in another person and helped her feel even more at ease. "I dare say that you may be the first of your kind to do so," she praised with another little curtsey. "And am extremely honored to have played even a small part in your journey towards infamy."

Another rush of warmth enveloped her as she swiveled in place a bit, hands gripping the hem of her skirt and lower lip capturing her bottom. "Well, I can't promise they'll be more entertaining than taking to the skies and dodging bludgers, but I'll certainly give it my most valiant effort. Though I think I'll need to take a boat out to do so properly...I'm not a very strong swimmer, you see." Nor was she a strong flier either, being in the clouds was exclusively reserved for her imagination and soul. She was certainly better than she had been, could probably float for a minute without something disastrous happening, but certainly nowhere near proficient enough for her to multitask. "Also much warmer in a boat than in the water at night for the likes of this maiden and I can carry a light with me that way...which might taint the mood of starlight upon the lake but...maybe some bluebells flames for a compromise."

Anna's pinky finger coiled around the air as though there were another pinky finger before her. "Well, in that case, your safe...though I may insist upon solidifying the promise once you transform your legs and come ashore anyway, just to be safe." So much winking...the glare from the sun's rays upon the lake must be agitating his eyes a bit. She wasn't too surprised since she had to squint every now and then or hold her hands over her eyes like a visor. Her head tilted, gaze drawn to the movement of his hands as they wiped the droplets off his sculpted arms, and was briefly distracted from his question. "Oh...um...skipping stones was certainly not my motivation initially but you are welcome to join me in the endeavor unless you are too busy plotting your Beater's strategy," she giggled while straightening her posture a bit and wiggling her toes in the wet sand. "Mostly I just wanted to take advantage of the way autumn at Hogwarts feels like a cozy quilt of amber leaves before winter's heavy blanket of snow makes it all a bit too chilly though not without its own wonders."

[Zoe]

Beauden chuckled, a wide grin stretching across his face as he soaked in Anna's lightheartedness and curtseying. "First of my kind, huh? That sounds like a title worth flaunting," he teased, his playful nature coming through.

Her admission about swimming made his brow raise ever so slightly, recalling the time he'd nearly sank like a stone the first time he ever gave it a go. But he had learned surprisingly fast what he needed to do with his arms and legs and had been a pro at it since. "Don't worry; as a Merperson, I am quite a qualified swimmer. Perhaps I could teach you a thing or two sometime," he said with a nonchalant shrug of his broad shoulders. "A boat sounds like a decent alternative though. If you happen to fall overboard, I promise to be your knight in slightly scaled armour."

"Honestly, I wouldn't mind skipping stones instead of plotting strategies. Though I might need a bit of practice with that, too. My talents lie more in the physical rough-and-tumble rather than delicate little rocks gliding across the surface," he admitted, shaking his head at the thought. "You'll have to give me a moment while I magic up a pair of human legs though." He chuckled, his laughter ringing out over the gentle lapping of the waves against the shore.

Beauden's gaze drifted toward the distant treetops swaying gently in the breeze. "I am more of a fan of spring personally," he mused. "But there is something special about watching the trees change and feeling the air get that crisp bite to it."