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 Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 10:38 pm
 Jane was rather put off by the fact that the Slytherin common room was so dang noisy! And even her dorm room was filled with twittering eye fluttering fools! She was about to unleash her snake on them when she remembered there was a library in Hogwarts that she hadn't visited yet.
It didn't take her long to gather up a bag of writing materials, several of her favorite Edgar Allen Poe books and set off for the library. The journey from the slytherin dorm room in the dungeons was rather hectic. There were students milling around all along the halls and even outside the library talking very loudly and in such annoying voices. Jane itched to smack a few of them or better yet stick itching powder down the back of their britches.
Somehow she was able to control herself and walk into the library with dignity, though the mean comments that followed her caused her neck and shoulders tense up. Why was it everyone was always saying mean things about her? Just because she was a slytherin didn't mean she was a terrible person. Sheesh, these kids needed to give her more of a chance. Of course if they did, she thought with a crooked smile, they'd learn that she was quite a conniving and mean person. But still one shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. One never knew what was underneath the surface.
Jane settled down in wooden chair in the library and tried to tune out the whispers and shuffling of pages coming from all corners. She couldn't help but roll her eyes and scowl, couldn't these kids learn how to be quieter? Libraries were supposed to sanctuaries where noise wasn't permitted.
Her mouth turning downwards into her permanent frown, she opened her book and began to read. Soon the words began to engulf her into the macabre world of Edgar Allen Poe, and she lost all sense of what was going on around her. She didn't even seem to notice that the hour grew long and the light from the window behind her had faded. She was now squinting to read the tiny print, though she didn't really notice all that much.
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Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 10:24 am
I suppose the librarian wouldn't let me into the restricted section, would they? Taylor wondered, holding a book on the history of dark wizardry. Certainly not with this book in my hand, he thought, amused. Why, the librarian would assume the strangest things about him--most of which were true, but still... Assumptions none the less. I suppose it wouldn't be as bad as if I were a Slytherin with this book, Taylor thought with a smirk. This just meant he could catch everyone off guard. Anything to do with dark magic would be automatically assumed to be a Slytherin's doing, no?
With that in mind, Taylor found a secluded area in the library and and sat down, setting the book spine down on the table. Can't let people see what I'm reading... He knew what a bad reputation one could get if they associated themselves with the dark arts and he had no intention of spending his years in Hogwarts ostracized from the Ravenclaw house. It would be very inconvenient.
It didn't take him long to finish the book, just a few hours for a few hundred pages. Most of it he already knew and he spent some time lingering on the recorded cursed objects. However, those meager hours turned the sky dim. How far is curfew? He had the intention of picking up another book to take to the common room with him but... it looks like he already exhausted the open library's book of dark arts. I suppose I could read about magical creatures... It was a viable alternative, indeed. Taylor stood and placed the Dark Wizardry book back in its correct place before wandering into another aisle.
Someone else is here... Taylor noticed, taking a quick glance at the Slytherin with black hair. Poe? What he read on the spine of the book caught his immediate attention--he was almost positive that the library didn't have a good collection of Edgar Allen Poe, if one at all. Muggle books were rather limited in Hogwarts. "Excuse me," He started, fascinated by the presence of the book the girl held in her hands, "Where did you get that book? I didn't think the library carried Poe," otherwise I'd be reading that instead of informational texts about unicorns and other creatures...
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Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 12:17 pm
Jane was rather annoyed to be disturbed by reading and glanced up with an irritated look on her face. She was about to open her mouth and tear into the bothersome ravenclaw when she noted the reverent tone he inflicted when he mentioned Poe. Hmm..could it be possible this fellow was a fellow Poe enthuisiast? Jane closed her book and looked him over a bit more carefully before she answered.
"No sadly the library doesn't carry such refined illustrious works, which I find unfortunate. Especially to those who will never encounter his glorious works of art. It's such a travesty." She said sweeping an arm around to indicate the other students in the library.
"It's from my own personal collection, why do you ask?" Jane reached up to maneuver a stray hair out of her face as she looked him over once more.
He was rather tall for a first year, he had to be at least five inches or more than her. Then again she was rather short for her age at 4 foot 6. He had bright golden eyes which were rather stunning. She eyed his mass of golden brown hair and wondered why he didn't move it out of his face. It had to be bothering him immensely.
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Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 12:42 pm
What a pleasant expression... Taylor thought, his eyes narrowing at her. She looked testy. Or, at least, she immediately did. Her expression softened some and since nothing insulting or venomous came out of her mouth, Taylor assumed it was safe to continue. "It generally doesn't carry any Muggle works," Taylor agreed with a nod, watching as the Slytherin girl swept towards the other students with her arms. She seems... eccentric, Taylor noticed, interested in how she said what she did. Illustrious... glorious... travesty... She sounded like a source of viable conversation.
"I've read Poe before and I haven't noticed any of his works in the library," Taylor explained to the girl, "I haven't read all of them though, so if there was perhaps a secret cove of horror novels, I wouldn't mind some direction towards the section," Taylor responded with a shrug, watching the girl carefully. Just basing from her outward appearance and the fact that she was reading Poe, it looked like she would provide interesting company. Though, of course, it could all be a coincidence.
Today... however, Taylor wasn't exactly searching for company. He was searching for something to read. Back to the magical creatures section then, I suppose... "Well, then.... My apologies interrupting your read," Magical creatures are very unbearably glorified... "I'd hate to ask since we aren't acquainted yet, but would you perhaps be willing to lend me that book after you're through?" Taylor inquired, looking down at the sitting girl through dark lashes.
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Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 1:31 pm
Jane wondered briefly why he had narrowed his eyes at her, but forgot it and didn't think about it. It really wasn't something that concerned her a great deal. She wasn't surprised to learn that the Hogwarts' library didn't carry any Muggle work.
While she herself didn't care for many muggle items or work, to her Edgar Allen Poe was a god. Despite his not being magic born she always secretly thought he might have been born a squib and had seen some of the magicking world, even if he hadn't realized it. How else could he come up with such macabre works without knowing how dark and forbidding the world really was around him?
"Well that's horrid. Though a lot of Muggle work does tend to be awfully repetitive and verbose sometimes." She said with a shrug of her shoulders. "Though Poe is divine with his macabre worlds and words. Have you read the
"The Telltale heart'?" That's one of my favorites."
Jane was aghast that the boy hadn't read all of Poe's works, though he obviously did like them. "That would be pretty awesome if there was. " She offered with an actual smile.
Her smile left a lot to be desired, as she generally didn't smile. It cam off as slightly creepy with her teeth partially showing and her mouth only slightly open at the edges. Of course if she had known this she would have just laughed her cackling laugh in enjoyment. Creeping people out was her specialty after all.
Jane cocked her head to the side and narrowed her eyes slightly as if she was studying him closer. "Well..I don't normally loan my books out to people I don't know. I'm Jane, what's your name?"
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Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 1:55 pm
 "Similar styles are displayed in Wizard as well," Taylor commented when he heard her say of the repetitiveness of modern Muggle literature. Separation from muggle culture from ours... in something that shouldn't be that different, He noticed, not overly concerned that she displayed this bias. Sure, his father was a muggle, but he'd need far more years than he would ever have in this life if he wanted to defend muggles against the plentiful amount of prejudiced wizards. Poe is an exception... Taylor analyzed, finding this girl rather interesting. It was good, at least, that she was able to recognize greatness no matter if it originated from a muggle or a wizard.
"I have read 'The Tell Tale Heart,'" Taylor responded with a nod, "His personification of human guilt in the heart beats was wonderfully eerie," Though perhaps a wee bit cliche, Taylor decided not to add. Who was he to criticize one of the masters of gothic novels?
Taylor didn't comment when he saw Jane smile. It wasn't exactly natural... and it was off enough to notice so. He wasn't scared, however, nor creeped out. He'd seen worse, by far.
Perhaps if he wasn't so adamant about a book to read (not to mention one as captivating as something by Poe), he would have been discerned by the look Jane gave him. Instead, he didn't flinch, nor care as she studied him. "I'm Taylor Alden," he just responded, offering out his hand for her to shake. "We have herbology together." It wasn't that Jane was excessively noticeable in class, Taylor knew that Slytherins and Ravenclaws have herbology at the same time... and after thinking about it, he did remember seeing someone of her stature there.
"I would be greatly appreciative if you made an exception... all I have left to read that's of any interest in this part of the library are the books about Magical Creatures," Taylor commented, unsure if he was supposed to smile at her to butter her up or something. He decided against it. "Though, I can understand where you are coming from... I won't hold it against you if you don't want to lend it out."
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Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 3:06 pm
Jane nodded. "True, each new book and formula for a book is mainly just reused. Of course it all depends on how a writer uses the theme or formula. Some just can't cut it, like that Rowlings lady. Have you read those horrid stories? Please..she was seriously high on something." Jane couldn't help but rag on the hedge witch, she majorly hated the series and how popular it was becoming in the muggle world.
She was rather annoyed that the Ministry of Magic hadn't done something about it. Sure they thought it was silly and that no one would actually believe it, but Jane wasn't so sure. All they needed was one overexcited muggle kid to blab about the magicking world and they'd all be in hot water. This was one of the reasons why she didn't care for muggles in the first place. She had no problem with the halfbloods though a good majority of them could have been kept in the dark about the magicking world as well.
"Excellent, it was a bit cliched though if you ask me. Oh well..it worked rather well though." Jane replied. She was actually glad to find someone she could discuss Poe with. She was surprised there weren't more fans of the writer. Perhaps she should try and make a club? It would have to be exclusive of course, and only allow certain people in as members.
"I just had an interesting thought," She started to say when the Ravenclaw told her his name. "Oh yes, I remember seeing you. You are rather good at Potions, or so I've noticed. Perhaps one of these days we'll get paired up. That would be very much welcomed, compared to the morons I've been getting paired up with lately." She added with particular vehemence in her tone.
"The last two slytherins were horrid snots and didn't know what they were doing! It infuriates me that they didn't even read ahead! It's truly aggravating."
Finally she calmed down enough and remembered that he had mentioned having to read books on magical creatures since there wasn't anything better to read in the library. "Oh yes, back to my idea. I was thinking we should start a Poe Reading Club, just the two of us. We can meet up in the Library and read Poe books. I wouldn't mind loaning you a book or two as long as you can finish them while in the library. I just don't want some stupid git getting his hands on my books and destroying them. I had a rather horrid gryffindor try to rip one of my books up the other day. Of course that ended up with him getting head butted in the stomach and sent to the nurse."
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Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 6:40 pm
Taylor nodded but didn't give much else approval, despite agreeing that Edgar Allen Poe does often times reuse themes. At this point, he was more of just evaluating Jane. Taylor also agreed that he thought it was odd for the Ministry to allow J.K. Rowling's books to come to light... At a certain point, however, the story must have spread too far. Like wild fire--what a cliche... The thought embittered him for a second. Someone's inadequacy, no doubt... Taylor listened carefully, the bitter feeling about him quickly turned into amusement. So she agreed that the heartbeat was overused. "Yes, cliche," Taylor echoed. So far they had three similar opinions. It was a bit uncanny, actually. I wonder if this means we'll get a long... or if we aren't meant to, there were conflicting views about personality compatibility. Then again, there was also a chance this would be their only interaction. "I've actually heard people who believe that the man who was murdered came back to life underneath the floor," Taylor commented, scoffing softly.
Taylor's ears perked up when he heard Jane mention that she had an interesting though. I wonder what this will be. Taylor's attention was focused on her, focused on what she was saying. "Thank you," He softly said when she complemented his ability in potions. She seemed to be having some bad luck when it came to partners--Taylor was lucky enough to be paired up with students who would either try to help or shut up and let him do all the work. A part of him thought that Professor Fairfront discovered his affinity towards potions and began pairing him up with students who could at least attempt to follow what he was doing. "Perhaps we can be partners, but we aren't in the same class... If we ever have extra lessons, though, perhaps." Jane must have forgotten that Gryffindors and Slytherins had potions together. Taylor didn't hold it against her, however.
"A Poe Reading Club?" Taylor inquired, testing out the idea in his head. I'm in the library generally anyway, if not reading books then doing homework... "That sounds entertaining," He admitted, for the first time having a bit of a smile on his face. His love for horror novels made accepting this offer easy for him--and worst comes to worst, he would be finished with all the Poe novels eventually... He didn't have to exactly like Jane to read her books.
"A Gryffindor did?" Taylor's brows furrowed--weren't Slytherins the ones stereotyped to be spiteful? While he was puzzled by that fact, he did snicker when he heard that Jane sent the boy to the nurse. "That would be a sight..." Head butt to the stomach... The more he thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed. Headbutt... A bloody headbutt... to the stomach! Of all places! He had to look away from Jane to keep from bursting out in laughter and covered his face so she couldn't see it contort from what he was feeling. So was Jane just so short or was he just tall? A headbutt to the stomach!
Regaining his composure, he uncovered his mouth with his hand and looked back to Jane, speaking with a much lighter voice now, "I would like that arrangement very much."
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Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 2:32 pm
Jane almost felt like the Ravenclaw was evaluating her, which was quite an odd feeling. She wondered how she measured up to his standards. Not that she really cared to find out. Sometimes it was just better not knowing.
She couldn't help but roll her eyes at his next comment. "How crazy. It's obvious they don't have any sort of intelligence."
Jane was annoyed with herself, she had heard some kids talking about how good he was at potions outside of the class before her hour. She couldn't believe she had said they were in the same class. Where was her mind? "Right, I overheard a few kids hanging around the Potions class talking about you the other day. Too bad, I wish we were. Oh yes, that might work. I'm sure if the professor would allow us if we were trying to do extra credit work." She rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Yes, that might work."
Jane could tell that her idea rather appealed to the boy, he was actually smiling genuinely for once. So that was what a real smile looked like. She'd have to practice smiling more, somewhere privately though. Now she'd have to find a place to do that.
"Well excellent." She said with a smile smile. "What time is good for you? I usually need at least an hour or two after class to do homework. Say..4ish? Or maybe we should wait until after dinner and do it then? Whichever is best for you."
Jane hadn't wanted to tell him the whole story, but figured it would explain the whole situation a bit better. "Well..it started out with me insulting him, and then he grabbed my book. He was so tall and with me being so short when I tried to jump and grab it I ended up hitting him really hard in the chest. It was rather comical how fast his face changed from blotchy red to pure white. And then he collapsed in a heap. I think he was a fifth year, and he had to have been over 6 foot."
Jane could tell that he was trying not burst out laughing at the thought of her head butting someone. She waited patiently with her hands folded in her lap with a small smirk while he composed himself. "Wonderful! I can't wait to start! It will be splendid to know someone with the same interests."
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 5:01 pm
It's obvious they don't have any sort of intelligence, Taylor echoed in his head. He painted a pretty good picture of Jane in these last few minutes. She seemed arrogant to an aspect and from her comments about muggles, it seemed safe to assume that she was a pureblood. Raised that way, I suppose. Since they were just first years, it was unlikely that Jane spent enough time away from her parents and or with muggles to get another view. But she isn't prejudiced against other wizards, he noticed, which was a rather large step above a lot of other purebloods. "Perhaps--but that's also assuming that our teacher ever gives extra credit," Taylor commented with a shrug. He was the one who brought it up to begin with.
Takes her an hour or two to finish homework? That seemed just about right for her--obviously she carried at least some natural intelligence... she was reading here, after all. It took Taylor similarly long, but that was mostly because he found a hard time focusing on subjects that bored him. "Four sounds fine with me, I'm sure we can take a dinner break if we do get hungry," Taylor commented, sticking his hands back in his pockets and digging his fingers down to the end. It's not like I have anything to do before dinner anyway. Most cases, he just came to the library after finishing his homework.
Taylor couldn't help but smile at Jane as he listened to her elaboration of the events. "What a shame," He noted. If Jane was the instigator... well, she was the instigator. But what sort of fifth year would get that worked up about a first year's comment. How ridiculous, Taylor shrugged. He knew that age played a large part in how other people interacted with them--he wasn't stupid to think he stood on the same ground as adults or even upperclassmen. It wasn't about intelligence when it came to that, it was just age. Luckily, Taylor was tall enough to look the part of an upperclassmen.
"It is pleasant," Taylor agreed with her when Jane said that it was splendid to find someone with the same interests as her.
"Students!" The librarian called out, demanding their attention. "It's fifteen minutes until curfew, please start packing up."
When the librarian was done speaking, he turned to Jane. "I'll see you tomorrow then," he nodded to her, "It was nice meeting you, Jane. Have a good night." With that, Taylor made his way back over to his bags and picked them up, quickly dropping by the Magical Creatures section and plucking out a rather dull looking book before checking it out and leaving for the Ravenclaw Tower.
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