From this madness

[Beau Hopkins]

It had been a while.

He hadn't really found a need to be social. He didn't really need friends, they would be nice of course, but they weren't necessary. It was exactly that way of thinking that had gotten Beau to be a bit... socially awkward. He didn't do it intentionally of course, but whenever he felt stressed he compressed himself as much as he could and didn't speak to anyone that he didn't have to. It was just how things were, and he was used to it. Still though, he couldn't bring himself to make the time to have social interactions that didn't involve school. He didn't even like school that much, he got by doing what he had to. So... this created a very boring existence for Beau. Primarily it consisted of his music, and his school work. Very boring indeed.

The underground Hufflepuff found himself up on the sixth floor this particular day, guitar in hand and wand in pocket. He looked around as he crossed a corridor and found it empty, just as he preferred. He hoisted himself up onto a windowsill and started strumming the guitar, absently plucking at the strings as necessary. The window was open just a bit, letting a light breeze whistle past him as he played on. The sixteen year old bobbed his head along slightly as he continued, playing a song by a muggle band. He didn't really know what song it was, but it was pleasant all the same.

[ Derrick ]

[Derrick Breckenridge]

Derrick was walking calmly around the halls with Francesca strapped to his back. And that was his plan for the day to just mosey around Hogwarts and play wherever it suited him. He had done so down in the courtyard earlier and now was just trying to find a floor that suited him or a tower. The owlry was always nice as long as the owls were in a decent mood that day so for the time being that was his destination. When he had arrived it was more an awkward moment then a pleasant one seeing as he had walked in on a couple snogging. Quietly and nervously wishing them a good time Derrick had descend the stairs entering the hallways to look for some form of sanctuary. One of them usually held somewhere that he could just relax and play his guitar.

Coming down the stairs quietly Derrick had entered the seventh floor and was disappointed. It held nothing that intrigued him or made him want to play their at the moment so he passed it up promising Marshall(This is what he had named the seventh floor in his first year) that he would return some other time. The stairs(Buddy) now lead him to the sixth floor. Hoping he'd find something here Derrick turned in and heard something unusual. Something that Derrick would usually only he if he himself was in Molly's halls. Walking down the hall he saw at the end of it a boy sitting in the window. He recognized him as a fellow Hufflepuff whose name he believed to be Beau. Nothing for the last name that came to mind though so for now he was just Beau.

Derrick usually acknowledged other musicians in a similar manner as the one he did now. Walking up quietly he brought Francesca off his back and just began to play along. He recognized the song from where he did not know or remember but he knew the song. Silently he mimicked Beau's movements on the guitar and as the song came to a finish Derrick finished and turned. Slinging Francesca over his back he began to wander back down the hall. He really wasn't feeling Molly today and he had said enough to the boy or so he believed with his music. Brushing the hair from his face Derrick silently walked on.

[Beau Hopkins]

Beau closed his eyes as he played, leaning his back against the cool glass of the window. Generally when he played he didn't pay much attention to his surroundings, not giving any thought to who was around or who was listening in on his music. It just didn't much matter to him, he was used to people looking at him when he played guitar, whether or not it was because he was good or just because they didn't see musicians all that often, he never knew. Either way, it didn't bug him too much. In fact it was only when he was without his guitar that he minded people looking at him.

The sound of identical strums and chords to what he was playing met the Hufflepuff's ears. He opened his eyes, his lips turning downwards slightly in a confused frown as he first looked to the left and didn't see anyone. Turning his head to the right he nodded as Derrick came into view.

He smiled slightly now that he knew who was playing along with him. Usually he was a solo act, preferring just to play alone without interruptions, but he didn't mind it so much. The fellow Hufflepuff apparently had talent, to that there was no doubt.

Finally the song came to a close and Beau closed his eyes for a second, basking in the last strummed chord, soft and sweet. When he opened his eyes Derrick had turned and was walking away from him. Feeling unfinished with the encounter Beau jumped down from the windowsill, holding his guitar by the neck in his left hand. " Wait... Derrick. "

[Derrick Breckenridge]

Derrick was more then happy to do nothing more then simply go on his way and be left alone. After his brief foray with the guitar in this hall it seemed like maybe today he just wasn't supposed to play that, perhaps, it was better that he just go read a book or something of that nature. Something of that nature was generally a very broad spectrum so it let him with quite a few options but regardless Derrick would find something that those halls couldn't give him that day. Maybe if he was lucky he would stumble upon Maddyson but doubted that it was a possibility. Checking the guitar strap once more Derrick continued to walk steadily his steps measured as he moved forward. His concentration was so focused that it almost startled him when he heard the voice call out to him. It seemed so distant though and Derrick felt as if for some reason he could continue to move forward. Regardless of this feeling though Derrick stopped turning slightly to glance back now watching as the boy neared him.

"Yes?"

Derrick spoke softly now waiting for the boy to reach him so that he could say whatever it was he wanted to say. He knew of him briefly from talks with Josh before. His name if he recalled correctly was Beau Hopkins and like him he was a Hufflepuff. Obviously he played guitar but beyond that Derrick didn't really have the first idea about who he was or what he was really like. It was the odd sense of adventure that Maddyson had brought on that caused him to stop and turn he supposed. It wasn't something he would usual do but also supposed that it could have been out of respect for a fellow musician that he did this. Whatever the reason Derrick stayed waiting for Beau, if that was his name, to say whatever he had to say. This could only be good or at least Derrick hoped.

(Eh sorry it's a bit wonky and not my normal quality I'm trying to get back into the thread >.<)

[Beau Hopkins]

Beau wasn't even sure what he was going to say to the boy. Don't leave just yes? We should play some time? The sixth year looked over Derrick's shoulder, down the corridor and watched as someone walked by, giving a glance to the two Hufflepuff lads standing with guitars. Their face was inquisitive and Beau turned his head away from them, down to the instrument in his hand.

" How long've you been playing? That was excellent. "

That hadn't really been what he'd planned on or had been thinking about saying, but as he reflected on it he decided it was a decent question to start off with. Beau had been playing for years, and if he had to guess it he would think that Breckenridge had been playing for quite some time as well. It was hard to say though, because he could always be one of those musicians that had progressed quickly. Either way though there was no way of knowing except to ask the question. He looked back up to the boy, waiting for a reply of some sort.