An Overwhelming Experience (Open to 1st Years)

[Christian Nagle]

One moment: one moment comprised of many individual moments that made up one single, in this case climatic, moment at which point Christian James Nagle (fourth son to bear the name) found himself stumbling toward a tree in the courtyard of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. One moment to base it all, the past month, on such a sudden feeling. It was overwhelming.

Chris sat himself beneath the tree, at its trunk, and let the warm autumnal sun dry his skin. He closed his eyes and listened to his breathing: inhale (2, 3), exhale (2, 3), inhale (2, 3), exhale (2, 3). He hadn't had a crash course experience quite like this one before now. It was like everything had been going so well - fine even. He was doing alright with classes... he'd made the Quidditch team, as an alternate albeit.... Now all he needed to do was make some good solid friends. He remembered Clayton Septim, the boy he'd met on the Sorting Night. He remembered that girl Shari, though she was (as he'd found out from other sources) in Ravenclaw and a third year. He'd be making friends, he hoped, with the Quidditch team, but after that - where were the people in his own year? He wanted to befriend them too!

[Carys Abendroth]

The October day was beautiful, and Sydney wasn't about to spend it indoors. The first year decided to venture out to the courtyard, as she hadn't yet explored this area of Hogwarts. A month had passed since she'd arrived at school, and it had been a busy month indeed. Sydney had made the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, playing chaser even. Her father had been excited when he'd found out. Jason James had promised his daughter that next year she could buy a Nimbus 2001. But for now Syd was ok with borrowing one of the school's Cleansweep 360s.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't see the boy until she'd nearly tripped over him. He was leaning back against a tree, eyes closed. What a strange place for a nap! Sydney wondered if it would be rude to wake him, but she recognized him from some of her classes. Well here goes nothing, she thought. It was always awkward, starting conversations. Sydney quessed that practice made perfect, right? "Hello."

[Christian Nagle]

"Hello."

Chris squinted his eyes, looking around for the voice he figured was addressing him. No one else seemed to be alone out here, so he guessed the somewhat familiar voice was directed at him. The sun pierced his vision and Chris groaned and closed his eyes again.

Darn sun!

He heaved a sigh, shoulders elevating and then relaxing, and opened his eyes. The time it took to readjust was quick, and he saw, standing nearby him, the first year - Sydney James! His facial expression must not have held anything back... he was surprised at how quickly it had taken for his wishes to be granted. Had he not just thought about his own class?

He allowed himself to smile at the girl and sat up a little straighter. "Hi." He said. "Gol-ly, I didn't see you there. How are you? Getting by alright, I mean?"

Chris knew he sounded really out of it, he could hear it resonating in his own head, amplified by his lack of interest in the day - well until now. He had company now, and for that he was most grateful.

[Carys Abendroth]

"I'm fine. Just enjoying some fresh air." Sydney responded, taking a seat next to Chris. She tucked a few strands of her hair behind her ear, and glanced at the Gryffindor.

"I'm getting by fine. I made my house Quidditch team." and the smile that came was one that Sydney couldn't help. She was proud of that fact, even if she was a little boastful about it.

"So what about you? How are you?" she questioned. Syd wondered if his first month here had been as busy as her own. The first year sat now with her legs crossed under her, and was picking at a blade of grass. It was actually quite pleasant, being outdoors. She was even chatting to another first year! The sun overhead was brilliant, but Syd wasn't even bothered.

[Clayton Septim]

Walking around reading a book about History of Magic. He decided to head out to the courtyard, because it was one of the places he hasn't discovered yet. After asking about 10 students of where the place was, he finally made it there. As he was looking, he noticed his friend Chris Nagle, the Gryffindor. He was a 'awesome cool' person and the other girl, he didn't remember her name. Started with a S but he forgot.

"What up, Chris?" he said with a smile, then looking at the girl, he smiled bigger. "Hi, uh... forgots your name? Sorry," he said blushing. He always blushed when he forgot a persons name, he thought he looked stupid.

[Isabella Huntington]

For the fifth time since she had arrived at Hogwarts a month ago, Isabella was actually having a good day. She still wasn't completely comfortable with the wizarding school yet and wouldn't hesitate to go back home and resume her old life if given the opportunity, but the red head was doing all right. She could finally nagivate her way around the castle successfully, she could now outsmart the staircases, her classes were going well, and she was even getting used to the uniforms, even if she still found them to be uncomfortable. She was no longer surprised when the various portraits around the castle moved and spoke, and she was even getting better with the ghosts.

...Well, almost.

"Stupid... idiotic..." the Gryffindor grumbled as she exited the castle and blindly stomped her way around the area, her hands both tightly clenched into fists. Her anger was evident on her face, which would've been just as red as her hair if her locks weren't darker than usual. Her hair was also flat, and if one looked close enough, they could see why - it was soaking wet, along with her school uniform.

She'd had the great misfortune of finally meeting Peeves, the school's legendary poltergeist. The Gryffindor had already known about him, as she had heard plenty of stories about the troublemaker since arriving at the school. He loved to cause mischief and play pranks on teachers and students, especially first years. Unfortunately for Izzy, not only was she a first year, but she just so happened to be walking down the first floor corridor when she met the bloody thing who just so happened to be carrying around an orange water bomb, waiting to drop it on some unsuspecting person. While he hadn't caught the first year completely off guard, he didn't give her any time to react before he sent the water bomb hurling at her, where it broke open and soaked her. Izzy barely had time to recover before she saw him pulling out another one, which was when she dashed down the corridor, dodging the poltergeist's water bombs as she went.

Izzy was now pacing outside in the courtyard, completely oblivious to her surroundings. "Bastard... lunatic..." she said as she continued to grumble. "Ars..."

Suddenly, the girl stopped, let out a loud, frustrated growl, and collapsed on her back in the middle of the courtyard. She laid completely still, spread eagle, as her green eyes looked up at the beautiful blue sky, filled with puffy white clouds. There was a sunflower, and that was a car... or was it a dolphin? The red head sighed and closed her eyes as she continued to lay right where she was, not caring if people saw the strange action or if she got sunburn from the sun shining down on the castle.

[Christian Nagle]

"Hey Clayton!" Chris felt a little more energized by the attendance of first years accumulating in the courtyard. Sydney was there, Clayton too. "I'm just dandy," he said in response to Clayton's question. Turning to Sydney, he smiled. "You made Quidditch team, eh? Congratulations." His smile was genuine, but the situation was strangely ironic. They'd be competitors on more than just the academic level it seemed. He thought that in any stereotypical situation, it would be an even divide - physically he might have the advantage (though for her sake, Syd looked really ready to take any vaggabond out and Chris definitely hoped she wasn't a beater), but in the classroom - well it was hard to tell. In this day and age, the roles could easily be flipped. But why compete when you can conjoin? (at least in the classroom; it'd be impossible to work together on the Quidditch field).

"I've actually made Gryffindor too. But I'm on reserve. I practise and all, but I don't really get into the action unless someone is taken out." He hoped that wouldn't happen too often, though he did yearn to play. He looked around the courtyard. "Lovely day, isn't it?" He addressed not just Sydney but Clayton also. They'd be a pretty awesome trio, he thought, a real representation of Hogwarts.

Just then, the other first year from Gryffindor (Isabella?) seemed to approach, growl and the plop herself down on the ground. It wasn't until she'd actually thrown herself on the ground that Christian noticed she was soaked! He tried to repress a giggle, but the effort was all he executed well.
"Do you know Isabella?" He indicated the Lioness. "Poor girl looks soaked."

[Carys Abendroth]

"Sydney, my name's Sydney." At least she wasn't the only one bad with names. Luckily though, the two boys knew each other, and Syd was saved from having to guess or worse, ask this boy's name. "You are on reserve? That's great, I mean at least you are on the roster! I believe a congratulations is in order to you as well!" she rambled off, after hearing that Chris was on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. So they'd be rivals? Well only on the pitch, or at least she hoped. But it was like Chris said, he was on reserve. So maybe he'd not see much play time. Sydney didn't really care at the moment. Right now they were sitting here, chatting and enjoying the company. There would be time to sort out that later.

"Yes, a perfect day for sitting outside in the courtyard. I can't believe I've not been here before today." Syd exclaimed, flinging her arms wide and grinning. Man, maybe having friends wasn't so bad, you at least smiled a lot more. Sydney definitely found herself liking the company of Chris, and even Clayton. Before Hogwarts, Sydney was never around anyone her age. Her little twin brothers didn't count. She was always expected to entertain herself, or play by herself and it became second nature, being withdrawn. Sydney hadn't realized her loneliness until she came to Hogwarts. It had been especially apparent on the Hogwarts Express, as she'd not talked to anyone. This was so much better, being able to talk about things she was interested in!

Chris pointed out a sprawled figure laying yards away from them, and Sydney shook her head. "Does seeing her in class count?" she answered, shrugging her shoulders. The red haired Gryffindor and Sydney hadn't formally met. Syd saw her in class, and of course remembered her from the sorting, but beyond that she didn't know a thing about Isabella.

[Christian Nagle]

Chris smiled along with the Ravenclaw. She seemed so happy to be there with them, and he was very happy for her company and the others' too. But with Sydney... Chris wasn't sure why but he felt very comfortable with her and liked getting to know her on this little moments (like hiccups in time that come unexpected). The sun shone a little brighter when he was around friends, and he knew that these people he was with right now would be the same people he'd follow through the next seven years. What a thrilling notion!

But he was still feeling overwhelmed by the situations he found himself in through the past month. Had they reached a point of comfortability to actually share their concerns with one another? Probably not - well, not yet.

[Isabella Huntington]

As nice as it was to just lay there and watch the clouds pass by, the current state of her school uniform made Izzy too uncomfortable to do so for very long. What she needed was warm, dry clothes to wear. Jeans and a plain t-shirt preferably, but that kind of clothing - Muggle clothing - wasn't really accepted at the school. Nope, it had to be skirts, sweater vests, and white blouses for the girls. One can't forget the long, black robes, either. It's like they sat down and thought up the most uncomfortable outfit in the world for their students to wear. Izzy didn't appreciate it.

Sitting up, Izzy peeled off her robe and dropped it next to her. Had she not calmed down and instead was still in the middle of her mini-tantrum, she would've let out another short yell and thrown her robe as far away from her as she could. She wasn't, so she just sighed and realized that if she wanted to be comfortable again, she'd have to march back up to her dormitory and change... which was something she didn't want to do. Whether or not Peeves was waiting for her to return, she didn't know and didn't want to find out. Even if he wasn't lurking in the Entrance Hall, there was still a chance that she would run into him somewhere else in the castle while on her way to Gryffindor Tower.

'Well, it's that or be uncomfortable, Iz,' the first year told herself. And as soon as she started feeling itchy, her mind was made up. A soft groan escaped her lips as she picked herself up, followed by her robe, and then turned to face the school. She didn't actually walk towards it, though, as something had caught her eye - students. Maybe there was a spell to dry stuff. Sure, it might hurt her pride a little to ask them for help, but... it beat having another run-in with Peeves, didn't it?

Izzy started toward the trio she saw sitting under a tree not too far from her. As she got closer to them, she realized they were first years and she immediately slowed down her pace. How much did first years know about spells? Just as much as her? Or did some of them come from wizarding families and know more than she did? At least there was that one smart girl there... Izzy didn't remember the Ravenclaw's name, but she did know that the girl was smart.

So she continued walking toward the small group and when she reached them, she flashed the three an awkward smile. "Err... hi..." she was slow, not sure what she should say. "You guys don't happen to know any spells that get things dry, do you?"

[Christian Nagle]

Chris wished he had a response for his fellow Lion, but alas, his mind was dry of any.

"Sorry Izzy. I dunno any." And then it hit him that she'd not been with their group originally. How awfully impolite of him! "Hey Izz... it's great to see you, mate! Dry or not. It's pretty sunny out today." He wanted to do something to make her feel more a part of the group, but nothing seemed to be conducive to that situation. So he just smiled at her, hoping that would be all it took.