Barnabas the Barmy
 

A moving tapestry depicts Barnabas attempting to train trolls for the ballet.

Making her way down the seventh floor corridor, Rachel Rider stopped abruptly in front of the slightly odd tapestry and the illustration on it. Sighing as the amusing concept didn't manage to cheer her up; she leaned back against the opposite wall and slid down to the floor. Her so called 'revival' plan wasn't working, and there was nothing she could really do about it.

After those first few horrible days, Rachel had decided that she was acting just a little ridiculous. Namel- REID, even though she had truly loved him, was still just a guy. And Rachel Rider did NOT break down because of guys - only pathetic girls did that, and she wasn't pathetic. Not anymore at least.

Making up an excuse for Livvy had been harder. A girl was allowed to mope after her best friend had betrayed her, right? But that line of thought hadn't helped her one bit - so she had come up with a tactic. For every good thing Livvy had done, Rachel would match it with a small portion of all the bad things she had done over the summer.

She had spent a mere ten minutes on that when she realised that the good outweighed the bad by quite a few. Realising that that on it's own was a problem solver, Rachel had began Revival Plan - in which she simply STOPPED thinking about Livvy and Reid, and if she did think about them then ONLY in a neutral, non-hurtful way.

Of course, that letter she had sent a few days ago had been a slight exception. Rachel groaned and put her head in her hands - still unable to believe she had done such a thing. So yes, maybe they deserved it and maybe she DID need it - but STILL. Wasn't it just a tad extreme.

No, she told herself firmly, breathing in and sitting up straight again, determined. This was going to be hard but she needed it for her plan. Rachel Rider would no longer be Miss. Nice Prefect who always smiles and gives a helping hand. No more. From now on, her trust would NOT be so easily gained - but VERY easily lost.

And as much as it was unfair - that included complete strangers too. As well as misbehaving students.

All this thinking about trust had her thinking about Lucy Stedman again. Her uncle's ex-girlfriend... Rachel still couldn't quite believe that the lady had the NERVE to send her a letter. She had broken Jake's heart - she had no RIGHT to be worried about him now. The sixth year felt herself get worked up again over it, and forcibly calmed herself down. Instead, she took out the last letter Lucy had sent her and read it again - trying to think of a suitable response.

Of course, she could always simply ignore the letter - but that wasn't really polite. Lucy wasn't part of her Plan. Ugh... This is VERY confusing.

She had been walking all day and she was actually tired now. She was on her way back to the Gryffindor common room,exhausted as she craved for a rest, probably for a little nap. It's just the start of term and she doesn't have much lessons and home works to attend to beside she had turned in her Arithmancy assignment already so she was free to do her favourite thing at Hogwarts again...WANDER.

She pocketed her hands on her jeans as she whistled her way to the common room when something had stopped her and her mind was pushing her to go somewhere else but not the common room. She turned her back and started walking down the seventh floor.

She noticed a black haired woman standing alone the corridor. Her feet just led her to that part of the castle and she had no intention on breaking into Rachel's personal space yet she noticed the sadness in her face. She remembered seeing her so happy last term... of course she was with Reid. She refused to reminisce that part. Via completely knew that she had feelings for Reid but she never told anyone. And seeing the two together just broke her heart that was why she had spent most of her time avoiding the two last term.

Her conscience seemed to take over this time, it's pushing her towards the girl... towards her friend. Via's too nice to refuse, she started walking towards Rachel. Okay.. just act as if you have seen her just now, she thought as she brushed the hair out of her eyes. As she came near her she coughed. "Rachel," she said trying to act as normal as possible. "I haven't talked to you for a long time," she continued. That was true. "How have you been?" She knew she was wrong in asking that thing but it was done.

"Sorry if i disturbed you.You seemed to be having deep thoughts," she said as an observation for her friend. Enough of the thoughts about the past, she told herself. She's my friend and I'm going to talk to her whenever i like. Now she felt a little bit more at ease to face her. She smiled at her friend and thought, What might have been bothering her?

Nattie! *glomps* ^_^
 

...I know how things can be. No, she doesn't. She doesn't know a THING abou- Eh?

Rachel blinked and looked up from the piece of parchment to see who exactly had said her name in this previously completely silent corridor. At first she eyed the ballerina trolls suspiciously before catching a glimpse of the window and seeing just how dark it had gotten.

Wow - she must have been here for AGES.

"Hey Via," Rachel smiled at the girl she had just noticed was there, nodding as she said that they hadn't talked in a while. It was true - they hadn't talked since...

Oh. ERAS- NO! Think about it - channel it - get over him it.

There... Done. Her shoulders which had hunched over moments ago, were now relaxed and she had a slight satisfied smile on her face as she looked up at Via once again. "It's fine; I'm used to getting interrupted. And I'm ok - been better, been worse... You?" she asked and patted the space next to her as a signal for Via to take a seat on the extremely comfortable cold floor.

SMILE, Rach, SMILE! Via hasn't done a thing to you.

Yet.
Oh, shut it.

Via watch Rachel with her brown eyes for a moment. She smiled. "Something had been bothering you?" she asked her. She wasn't really expecting an answer for that anyway, Rachel can refuse to answer. beside Via has done enough distraction for her, "I mean just say Yes or no."

Even Via had her worse times so she didn't wonder why.It was just normal for people to feel things like that. She saw Rachel motioning for her to take a seat beside her on the floor and so Via didn't hesitate. She eagerly occupied the space and comfortably leaned back at the wall. For a moment she was quiet. "You wanna share something?" she asked Rachel without looking at her but at the wall across her. "It will help you," she added.

The last time she had opened to someone, it went bad. Not really bad, but she didn't like the feeling. "I know we haven't had much time together but..." she paused. "You're my friend... and it's the first time i'll see you like this." Rachel was one of the most active and bouncy girl she had ever met at Hogwarts.

Maybe she should throw a joke or something...she wasn't good with such hings but it's worth a try. "Did a ravenclaw first year made you mad? Housepoints?"

Rachel bit her lip as Via asked her THE question. Sure, there was something wrong with her - but did the plan include telling people? . . . No. No - because then she'd just end up feeling sorry for herself and one thing would roll into another and- NO. No spilling.

"Nah it's ok - I'm handling it on my own, although thank you for your concern. You're probably the only one in this bloody school," except numbers 1 & 2 "who actually cares," Rachel nodded with a smile and laughed as Via suggested points.

"I think I'd prefer if it were... How about you? Anything interesting to tell?" she asked with honest curiosity. She and Via hadn't talked in too long a time and now was as good a time as any to catch up. Plus, it'd be nice to hear someone else's story for a change.

Via already knew Rachelle's response and she had no intention on being such a pry... She just nodded and smiled at her friend. "I understand..." she just told her. "I just hope you'd be able to get over that thing to ease the burden you have been feeling, Rachelle," she continued although that thing wasn't an easy job. And as Rachelle said that she was the only one in the school concern about her... forget the bloody, she wondered. "I say, you are wrong with that... your friends are out there..." she actually didn't know what to say. "I am your friend but you have more than one and i know that they care, too," she said.

"I think I'd have to be mad about the house points thing since we're on last place," she shrugged. She'd have to work on her home works. "Nothing new to tell really, i've just been into the maze down at the grounds along with new friends i met... Corn stalks... somewhat irritating but it was fun down there... you should try it sometime," she said. Remembering Livvy was with her at the maze she thought about mentioning her since she knew LIvvy could help her, "By the way Livvy's down there with us... always active," she commented because she had never seen her look so sad or anything.

Having nothing else better to do, LouAnn Purple exited the chaos known as the Gryffindor Common Room and headed down the corridor. As she walked along, her mind raced with everything that had happened since she'd first arrived at Hogwarts. She'd made more friends than she'd originally thought she would, which was certainly a good sign. A person can never have too many friends, now can they?

She thought of Jake, Chris, Jack, Theo, Rafe, Cela...and all the other friends she'd managed to meet during such a small period of time. Despite the fact that she'd been feeling odd lately, her life felt like it was sort of, maybe, coming together. Perhaps life wasn't turning out to be so unfair after all.

...and suddenly, without warning, the girl's happy moment turned black---dark black, just like it'd been randomly doing off and on for the past few weeks. She blinked, then her face became blank, almost as if she were suddenly lost inside the forest of her own mind.

Mechanically, almost as if she were a little puppet attached to a group of strings, LouAnn froze in place. All the happy thoughts she'd previously been smiling about escaped her, and only one thought played over and over in her mind. Her hand moved inside her pocket and felt the drawstring bag that had been weighing her pockets down for weeks. Later, she'd cry about the headache this would cause, but for now, she knew where she needed to be...and it wasn't here.

Walking along the hall or whatever this place was called, Jule looked around for something interesting to do. "I wonder where everyone is," she mumbled t herself. She was in a good mood but still worried about some things back home. Maybe she should leave Hogwarts as well. But may e in her later years here. Jule began to skip, with her long, brown hair trailing behind her. Her hair had it's days where it'll be straight or it'll be curled. Sadly, jule couldn't do much about it right now. So she just kept walking along until something interesting appeared out of nowhere.

Miles walked up the stairs feeling like...well almost as if he was going to face the gallows or something. Dum dum dum dum de dum de dum de dummm.... Stopping as he reached the 7th floor in front of that weird thing of Barnabas the Barmy he kept his hands deep in his pockets and he turned to look at Fia. "Alright...you wanted to talk?" Why was this like pulling teeth? Or feel like it anyway.... Maybe he was afraid of what she wanted to talk about....that was it...had to be.

He didn't seem happy. Fia wanted her best friend back, her happy Miles. She followed him up the flights of stairs as he was just so quiet, so unlike Miles and when he turned to ask the dreadful question.

"I do want to talk," she began as she took off her hat and placed her gloves in her pockets. It was time to just come out and say it but it was hard with the way he was acting. "I miss the old Miles, my best friend, the one who laughs and jokes." That's NOT what she wanted to talk about but, this was going to be a slow thing to get too as it was hard to discuss.

Miles frowned slightly as Fia spoke and watched as she took her hat off and her gloves off, his eyes following her hands until her gloves were in her pocket. Stop. Bringing his eyes back up to meet hers he had to stop himself from scoffing. "Really..imagine that...." He took a deep breath as if about to retort with something when he thought better and instead asked a question. "What do you like about Theo?"

Fia's expression fell. Miles had a rather bad attitude at the moment and...well nothing like the one question that she was here to speak to him about. "That's what I wanted to tell you about," she began as she watched him for a moment. "I like Theo...as a friend...nothing more. That's why I met him, but I had no idea what that....fru fru place was that we went too." She wrinkled her nose, closed her eyes and shook her head really fast. "Too girlie and lovey dovey.

"What about you and...and...and blondie? Huh? Who is she and what do you like about her?" There! He had someone she didn't know and now it was time to turn things around.

Miles looked at Fia as she spoke and his insides were jumping up and down. She only liked him as a friend!! He had to force himself not to grin and even then a chuckle escaped as she described the place. "Yeah, it is."

Then her question. Wait! What?! "Who...? Brody? She's just this girl I ran into one day. She caught me as I was going back to the castle." The first time. "And seemed to want to stick to me....I don't know a thing about her. I think she has a boyfriend though.... Why?"

OH! Another girl with a boyfriend? Okay! This jealous nature of hers had to stop but..."Her name is Brody?" She tried to hide the smile that was forming as she looked to the side. She had to answer his question, she couldn't just leave him hanging.

"Well, you brought her there...to the same place. Looked a little...strange. Besides, what did she say to make you run away? I didn't know you were scared of anything." Now THAT deserved a smile.

Miles nodded and pulled his jacket closer around him, "Yeah that's her name. I ran into her as I was walking outside one day." Was it him or did it feel come in here? Why did it seem like he had to explain every little thing too?

"I brought her there because..." Dare he say the truth? "I was hungry and they have good sandwiches." Yeah that's right feed the same lie. "She didn't say anything it was..." He swallowed and looked down at the ground, "It was...you..." he mumbled. He looked up at her and sighed, "I...I don't know what's changed but it has and I can't stand to see you with Theo...but I can't see you as just a friend anymore." He scratched the back of his head as he tried to find the right words or to make them come out anyway. "Fia I like you...and I know it's weird...and completely not what I ever thought it would be. It wasn't until Spazo Theo came in that I got jealous and I tried to put it off on me being irritable that you weren't spending as much time with me but I couldn't do that anymore and..." he found himself rambling probably in an attempt to avoid any negativity from Fia.

Fia was shocked at the words that were spilling out of his mouth. First of all when she asked who or what was said that made him scared and run away, it was her? The look she sported was that of confusion more than anything else until he continued speaking. The feelings he had towards Theo being around here were the same feelings she had when another female was around him.

"That day...in the pumpkin patch...when you kissed me," she began to speak with a shaky voice. She was more nervous than anything but if he could speak out loud, then it was her turn as well. "I...liked it. I like you too...more than just a friend." She reached for his little pinky and then her green eyes looked up to meet his. "Anddd...every time there was a female around you...well...I didn't like it. They were in my spot."

Miles looked at Fia as she started speaking and started turning a little red as she mentioned the kiss. Bracing himself he waited for a backlash but was surprised...she liked it...AND SHE LIKED HIM!!!! If he wasn't feeling a little off he might've danced around the corridor. He looked down as her hand reached out and she grasped his pinky. Pinky...why the pinky...a bit odd.... Then her words came out and he couldn't help but laugh, "Except your spot is always there Fi."

Bringing his fingers in between hers, that was weird but nice. He looked at her, "So what now?" He hadn't a clue. He had never been in a relationship let alone...well no he'd never done this.

Fia wore a smile that was literally plastered to her face. She liked the fact that their fingers were now woven together. It felt different but it was nice. "I like my spot next to you and I will keep my spot next to you.". There. She made claim to something and if anyone invaded her territory well she'd punch them.

Once he asked that question she shrugged her shoulders. "Well, I haven't been this far yet," she snickered lowly to herself. "From what I've seen, boys and girls hold hands and kiss a lot but, I don't want to get into trouble for kissing all the time.". Not that she wouldn't mind it again but...it was still just....strange. "I think we need to start off just...holding hands?".

Miles smiled as he saw Fia smile and laughed when she spoke knowing she was staking claim to him. But oddly enough it didn't bother him in fact it made his smile grow. Man what would Ivan say...

He squeezed her hand as she spoke again and looked down at it. Kiss a lot...why did that sound appealing. "We are holding hands..." Well done captain obvious. So if you are holding hands then what's next.... Eh since when did he care about getting in trouble. Pulling her hand he pulled her close to him and wrapped his arm around her. A small smirk formed on his lips and he leaned down to kiss her.

Boy! Miles was smart today. He noticed that they were holding hands, obvious. Fia couldn't help but giggle. The look on his face, she completely understood.

"So what is Iv-". She stopped suddenly as Miles pulled her to him. She raised a brow at his action, grinning widely from the inside a s he kissed here again, but this time he was NOT goin to run off.

Pulling back he grinned at Fia but didn't let her go. This was....odd...yet...fantastic. Weird. She was still his best friend and yet she wasn't. This would take some getting used to. As he looked at her he chuckled lightly, "So what is Ivan....?" he prodded trying to regain the flow of conversation. Though a part of him could care less about what his idiot of a cousin thought. He'd probably be laughing if he saw this. His mother on the other hand would be jumping with joy..she was quirky that way.

Pulling Fia with him he started walking down the corridor at a slow pace, "Mum invited you to come over for Christmas if you want." Now that would be interesting. Did they pretend they were just friends still? Did they just act normal...? Ugh so many questions and he didn't know what he was doing at all.

Oh my STARS! Fia was...THRILLED. HAPPY. WOW. So strange yet so good. She sighed with a smile on her face as Miles pulled her down the hallway. Ivan? What was she going to say about him? "I don't remember what I was going to say about Ivan.".

As they walked down the hallway, she began to memorize his hand on hers. The way it felt, the amount of sweat that was coming from their hands together, it didn't matter. "I thought I was already coming for Christmas," she began as she looked to Miles with a dreamy look in her eyes. "I mean, it wasn't written in stone but, I am your best friend. I was hoping we would spend some time together at Christmas.". Oh yeah! She was #1 just as he was #1 with her. Tee hee