Adventures of DJM & ACG Part 1: Darkness Prevails

[mcnutt]

After showing the newest bunch of Slytherins to the common room, Dustan ran past most others to get to his dormitory room, wanting to find Kellen so he could refill him with dirt. As soon as the plant was in hand, he pushed past people to get out of the common room, being careful not to send him for another spill from his arms and ran like a maniac trying to beat the curfew before anyone saw him heading toward the doors. It was usually pretty easy getting in, but getting out...well, everyone wanted to know where you thought you were going. So if you hurried to get where you were going, and then were caught on the way back you could say you stopped in at the restroom for some reason or other. That worked ever since second year as in first year he could keep using the excuse that he was lost.

And not getting caught was top priority as he had a certain someone waiting for him and he didn't want her in trouble because of him. Plus, if they were caught on their way in he could just say he found her and pretend she was getting into trouble and of course she wouldn't really be in any and he could just say he was starting rounds already. Made sense to him, did anyone disagree? No, then he was on his way out. Good old Kellen wouldn't disagree anyway, he had much too much of a sweet disposition to argue back.

Running up the stairs and into the Entrance Hall, he glanced around, eyes wandering everywhere as he pulled open the door, which gave him away by groaning slightly at the movement, and he rushed out, only to find himself tripping down the stairs, face first into Kellen. Well, at least snake plant was only allergic if you ingested it, and he wasn't unfamiliar to it's appendages to be in face. This wasn't the first time he'd done something like this, usually because he was in a hurry and looking around to be sure no one was following him or going to surprise him. The only thing that had hurt was when he pot rammed into his jaw, but he'd live, with slight bruising probably, but other than that, as long as he hadn't been spotted by anyone...he'd be fine.


[Abigail Greenwater]

[Abigail Greenwater]

The Sorting Feast dragged on and on. What was only a few short hours felt like days to the Gryffindor girl. As she sat at her table she resisted the urge to glance toward the Slytherin table. It took most of her power to do that. She drummed her fingers on the table as she listened and watched the first years get sorted into their houses. They all looked so...scared. But they didn't matter to her now. She had plans on her mind. As she ate dinner she thought of contingency plans for her and Dustan in case of being found. They could always tell the truth but, how they were treated would depend on who caught them. Running was also an option. That one would only work if Kellen wasn't with them.

Finally the feast was over. Everyone was milling about, talking to old friends, and making a huge mess in the Great Hall. Sighing in frustration Abigail tried to force her way through the masses. She only got pushed back into her table and hit her elbow. Without a word of anger she stared at the ground, letting everyone pass her. Once the hall was empty enough she turned and started her way toward her common room. Following some other fifth year Gryffindors up the stairs she tried to make it look like she was with them. Finally making their way up to the second floor she made a mad dash in the other direction. One good thing about being invisible is that no one notices when you leave.

Abigail ran around a corner and hid, making sure no piece of her clothing stuck out around the corner. She wasn't nervous yet. She felt a mixture of excitement and anxiousness. Never in a million years would she expect to do something like this. Something so out there and almost dangerous. Abby may get in trouble but she was never dangerous. The sound of footsteps were fading away which mean Abby could come out of hiding and make her way back down to the Entrance Hall.

She took her time as she descended the steps. Now the her nerves were staring to fire up. Thoughts about Dustan leaving her to get caught down there flashed again and again. She told herself he wouldn't do that, he was different. Until she saw him that was all she would think. As she entered the Entrance Hall she heard the sound of someone. Picking up the trail of her robes she dashed away, hiding behind a statue. Her heart stopped as this person entered the hall. Gulping quietly Abigail glanced around the statue to see who it was. The only emotion she could express now was happiness. It was Dustan.

"Psssst! Dustan. O-over here." She whispered to him as she stepped out a little more from behind the statue. Her cheeks flared red after she saw him. She knew he wasn't going to play a joke on her or get her in trouble on purpose.

[mcnutt]

Lifting his face from the pile of dirt, Dustan glanced around and didn't see anyone, but that only lasted a moment when he heard the soft whisper that was familiar from earlier on the train. Abigail. Face as red as anything, his green eyes turned toward the brunette with a slight fear written in them. Would she laugh about his performance? Would she continuously make fun of him? Ah, whatever, he would live because he certainly couldn't fight her, she was a girl after all. But the quietness of her voice, the lack of bubbling giggles gave him a shining ray of hope, who knew? Could it be possible she hadn't seen him? Hopefully. Hope was all he had.

Picking himself up and brushing off his face as well as possible, not sure if all the dirt was gone or if there were traces left behind, Dustan crept closer, eyes surveying the area looking for anyone who just might be out watching for students like them. Maybe his badge could save them though, it was possible.

"Hey," his vocals whispered in return, a light smile touching his eyes at seeing her really there. Maybe, just maybe, she didn't think he was a freak after all the plant talk. Hope... again.

[Abigail Greenwater]

Seeing his body on the ground made her bite her lip in worry. Is he alright? Would they need to end this trip early because of injury? Thoughts like this swarmed her mind. If needed she would try to sneak out for him to get some dirt. Hopefully he wasn't hurt too bad and they could have their outing together. Together, that was something else that stuck out in her mind. She would be doing something with someone else and they wanted (or so she hoped) her to be there with them. The worry of getting caught was slowly slipping out of her mind as she looked at Dustan.

Grey eyes glancing around the hall once more she walked out to him, her footsteps making no sound. As she walked her eyes looked him up and down to make sure he looked alight enough to do their task. Abigail hoped he didn't notice this for it would seem very rude. But he was watching her as well so it probably didn't go unnoticed. "A-are you al-alright?" Her voice was quiet and full of worry. More then getting caught she worried about his well being. Again she looked him up and down just to be sure. "I-I-I don't want yo-you to get any-anymore hurt....if-if you are."

Just hearing him say 'hey' to her sent small chills throughout her body. Something about his voice really struck her. Abby felt if she wasn't so pumped for this adventure she might go into catatonic shock. She tried not to show how happy him greeting her made her feel. She hoped he felt it to when he saw her.

[mcnutt]

As her eyes observed him, Dustan's own green watched in worry at what she was doing. Hopefully nothing had been torn when he fell, but he also knew with his luck things were unpleasantly wrong. But when she questioned his well-being, a faded smile touched his lips before he nodded slowly in answer. He was fine, would be at least, nothing seemed to be bleeding and any bruising would go unnoticed by others, so he was well on his way to being able to refill Kellen up properly and get him together again. Once more her eyes fell over him, and he could feel his neck heating in embarrassment over being so clumsy around her. It was SO embarrassing.
"Nah, I--I'm good," he answered, his smile brightening and showing a small gap in his front teeth. "I--I just wasn--wasn't re--really paying atten--attention, was a bi--bit too exci--excited real--really. Get--getting Kel--Kellen some dir--dirt an--and all."

Wiping as much of the dirt from his face as he could without the magic of a mirror to help him, he didn't take notice of the smudge on his nose or the smear across his chin from where he'd landed in the pot Kellen called home.

"Sh--shall we b-be off the--then? To... To ge--get the dir--dirt an--and take yo--you up to--to your dor--dorm so yo--you don--don't ge--get in troub--trouble?" Maybe being a Prefect wouldn't be all that bad after all.

[Abigail Greenwater]

Relief was all she felt when Dustan told her everything was alright. She didn't look him over again but she was still slightly worried that he may not be telling her something. Abigail nodded slowly and glanced around the hall again. The quiet was almost scary to her. She was used to people standing around making noise. Now it was silent, save for the usual cricks and creaks of the night. It was eerie being there with Dustan. There was something very wrong about it, but all thoughts of repercussions were subdued in Abby's mind. She was living in the now.

"Gl-glad to hear th-that." Her voice was soft so no one could hear them. Once again she glanced around, this time to bring her attention to something else. Anything else. This night, this entire day had been like something out of a fairy tale. Abigail felt like some princess in a story. The only problem was the evil witch hadn't reared her ugly head yet. Looking back over to Dustan her eyes caught the smudges of dirt on his face. She couldn't help but grin at him. The smudges looked cute on him. Very cute.

"Sh--shall we b-be off the--then? To... To ge--get the dir--dirt an--and take yo--you up to--to your dor--dorm so yo--you don--don't ge--get in troub--trouble?"

Abigail nodded slowly and smiled wide. Her heart started to race again as their little outing was set in motion again. "Al-alright." Abby said, her smile not leaving her lips. Quietly she started toward the door. As she walked she turned her head back toward Dustan, glancing at him quickly. She didn't like to be stared at but she couldn't help but steal glances at him. She was embarrassed enough at how she reacted when they met, her stealing glances like this made her just a bit more abashed.

[mcnutt]

Pulling Kellen nearer, looking as though he was carrying the most precious diamond of mankind. In his mind, that's exactly what Kellen was, the most precious of them all, he was, after all, one of Dustan's very first plants, named after an individual he admired greatly. Though he'd never actually even once spoken to the guy, his admiration for the former Head Boy at Hogwarts hadn't dimmed, and only glowed more in the realization he would soon have a chance at that exact spot. And since knowing of Kellen, he gathered a new plant for each Head Boy named, and each was named thereafter.

"Alrig--alright," he echoed her words carefully, glancing around before leading the way right up to the double doors. Maybe they'd get lucky and it wouldn't creak. When they reached the entrance/exit of their destination, Dustan's hand reached out, making sure Kellen was safely balanced against his chest stomach and in his arm, then pulled on the door.

Creeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaak. Loud and echoing in the large, cavernous area. What luck he was having that very night.

"'S'alrig--alright, le--let's go." Taking one step into the dark abyss, he wished he felt comfortable enough lighting the way and holding onto Kellen.

[Abigail Greenwater]

Abigail's eyes darted around quickly, looking for anyone that could catch them in the act. No one was found. But she only glanced. Not wanting to freak herself out more then needed she took a step toward Dustan. She wasn't going to turn back now, not when an adventure was at her feet. Breathing slowly she looked Dustan in the face and smiled wide. This little excursion was the most exciting thing she'd done in, well forever. Her heart raced with worry and anticipation. She knew going outside was wrong, but it felt so good to start to break out of her shell.

Abby followed Dustan outside, looking around. The night air wasn't cool, yet to wasn't warm either. Instinctively she pulled her sweater around her chest. In her mind she felt safer, more secure. While one hand held her sweater the other went to her wand. With a flick and a quite spell there was light. Holding her wand out in front of her she walked a bit ore confidently.

"S-so. Was it-it hard to ge-get away from your ho-house?" She knew this was a dumb question, but she wanted the conversation to keep going. Slowly she was feeling more comfortable with the boy. He made her feel safe. Not the kind that a sweater can give you, but a different kind. She didn't have a name for it yet, but maybe she would soon.