Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Jun 29, 2008 21:38:27 GMT -5
Felicity was sick and there really wasn't a damn thing Drew could do about it. She was laid up in the Hospital Wing and would be there for Merlin knew how long. She'd be okay, but still Drew spent all lthe time he could with her, trying to cheer her up, helping her keep up with lessons, making sure she didn't feel too lousy. At least, he was until the nurse got sick of him and told him he needed to get out or else she was going to really give him a reason to be there. Drew wasn't happy about the banishment, but kind of understood. The woman had enough people in there and probably didn't need any more. On the other hand, it wasn't like he was really bugging her any or taking up that much room. Still, he didn't want to go too far and as the nurse firmly shut the door behind him, Drew took a seat on the floor right next to it. He leaned his back against the wall and first pulled his glasses out of his fron pocket and then a book out of his backpack, propping it on his knees. He'd be good for a couple of hours at least, knowing he had his two apples stashed in his pocket as well as a bag of crisps and a couple of napkin wrapped cookies in his backpack. After that, he'd go down, grab something from the kitchens, and come back to his stake out. {open }
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Connor Manning
Head Boy
Slytherin Seventh Year Quidditch Captain
something in the way
Posts: 737
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Post by Connor Manning on Jun 30, 2008 2:17:49 GMT -5
The day was long, his duties short, and Connor was left with nothing to do. Instead of doing something productive, he decided he would begin to reread one of his favorite books, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by the muggle author Douglas Adams. In Connor's opinion anyone who read the book and didn't think it was funny either had a very strange sense of humor or just couldn't read very well. He realized the topic of the book was kind of out there, but still, the humor outdid itself sometimes. He read as he walked around the lower parts of the castle, not feeling like trekking up too many stairs, as it would probably be hard to do while reading.
The story began with a house.
The house stood on a slight rise just on the edge of the village. It stood on its own and looked over a broad spread of West Country farmland. Not a remarkable house by any means — it was about thirty years old, squattish, squarish, made of brick, and had four windows set in the front of a size and proportion which more or less exactly failed to please the eye.
Even the description of the house was humorous, and it was easy to admire Adams for his ability to write. If Connor had been paying half as much attention to where he was walking as he was to reading the book in his hands, he would have noticed a person sitting on the ground. He probably would have also noticed that he was walking too close to the wall. Being a little clumsy, Connor at first didn't look back to see what it was he had tripped over, causing him to stumble. His luck it was probably nothing. As he walked a few steps forward to right himself, he turned back on the off chance that the thing he had tripped over happened to be a someone.
He laughed as he saw the seventh year on the floor, figuring he must have tripped over the older boy's shoe. Random, but kind of amusing at the same time. " What ya doing on the floor? " He asked, folding down the page of his book and closing it. If he was going to trip over him, he might as well talk to him.
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Jun 30, 2008 21:11:31 GMT -5
It really wasn't unusual for someone would trip over Drew's feet, as large as they were, nor was it any surprise that Drew hadn't seen Connor approaching. It wasn't until he felt a sharp contact of foot against foot that he looked up, giving a yelp of pain more out of reflex than from pain.
"Dude! You okay?" he asked the Slytherin prefect, and Drew pulled his feet in closer even though the damage had already been done. At least the guy hadn't fallen on his face. That would have really been a major bummer.
"I was camping out," the Ravenclaw answered, responding to Connor's easy laugh with a crooked grin. He nodded to the door of the hospital wing and shrugged. "I got kicked out. The nurse said I was getting under foot. Seems it wasn't much better out here though..."
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Connor Manning
Head Boy
Slytherin Seventh Year Quidditch Captain
something in the way
Posts: 737
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Post by Connor Manning on Jun 30, 2008 22:11:44 GMT -5
Connor wasn't even sure which floor he was on, first or second surely. It took a second or two of looking around to notice that he was one the first floor, just outside of the hospital wing. He could distantly hear people coughing from within the place as felt glad that he hadn't gotten sick with dragon pox like most people in the school. The worst he had ever come down with while at school had been a cold, which had knocked him around for a while but he recovered.
He looked back to Drew, nodding head, " Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry about that. You? " He said, unsure if whether or not he had really hurt the guy or if he had just surprised him by tripping over his feet. For some reason Drew looked weird sitting on the floor, and Connor realized it was because he was so short looking when he was sitting on the ground. Usually the seventh year stood a couple of inches taller than Connor.
" Ha, yeah. Felicity alright? " He asked, giving a nod to the door of the hospital wing. He had heard that his fellow sixth year had been feeling under the weather and hadn't seen her around nearly as much as he had grown used to.
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Jul 1, 2008 2:19:28 GMT -5
"Yeah, I'm good," Drew answered, figuring it was in part his own fault for having his big feet blocking the hallway. "No harm, no foul, right?" If they were both fine then all was good in Drew's mind.
"Yeah, she's good," Drew answered with a small smile. While the idea of her being sick was obviously not a happy one, just thinking of the Gryffindor made him grin. And she did look awfully cute even with pox.
"I guess there's really no reason for me to be here, but I can't help it," he said with a shrug, knowing he looked whipped, certain he really wasn't, but not caring in the least if he actually was. "What are you doing down this way?"
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Connor Manning
Head Boy
Slytherin Seventh Year Quidditch Captain
something in the way
Posts: 737
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Post by Connor Manning on Jul 1, 2008 3:11:16 GMT -5
" Yeah, no worries. " He said with a small nod of his head, glad to hear he hadn't harmed the seventh year in any way. He would have not only felt stupid if he had, but also bad about it. But as the older boy said, no harm no foul. Connor placed his book into his back pocket as he leaned up casually against the wall opposite Drew.
Connor smiled, it was good to know that Felicity was recovering nicely. From having just about every class with the Gryffindor girl and Celina, Connor had grown accustomed to being around them. Drew did sound pretty whipped to Connor, and he shrugged and grinned slightly, " Hey man at least you know she's alrigh' and all. Is it packed in there? " He asked, once again referring to the infirmary. He had known a lot of people to get sick and wasn't sure how many of them were still sick or had just recently gotten the dragon pox.
" I was bored. Couldn't find anything to do, so I was reading and walking. Not the brightest idea. " He said with another shrug of his shoulders. " When's Felicity supposed to get out, anyway? " He asked curiously, wondering about his friend.
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Jul 2, 2008 1:14:41 GMT -5
"Whenever the nurse says," Drew answered with a smirk. "It's pretty packed in there though, so I think the nurse is getting them out of there as soon as she knows they're past the worst of it... so I figure not too much longer."
The Ravenclaw understood the feeling of boredom though. He had a lot to think about, but not a whole lot to do to try and keep his mind off of it.
"Probably doesn't help any when you've got blokes sitting in the hallway though," he answered. "I was just trying to get some studying done while I had the time."
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Connor Manning
Head Boy
Slytherin Seventh Year Quidditch Captain
something in the way
Posts: 737
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Post by Connor Manning on Jul 2, 2008 20:39:47 GMT -5
It was nice to hear that Felicity would be out soon, Connor wanted to talk to her about Celina. His brow furrowed just slightly at the thought of the Ravenclaw girl. He hadn't talked to her in a few days, about anything that needed to be talked about. He didn't know if he wanted to talk just yet, but he wasn't putting the idea away entirely just yet. " Sweet, at least people are getting better... it was getting pretty bad for a while. " He mentioned, with a shrug, sliding down onto the ground on the wall opposite of Drew.
It wasn't like the Slytherin had anywhere else to be or anyone else to talk to at that moment, so he figured he might as well sit for a while. " Ha, yeah. I always manage to forget you're a year ahead of us. " Us was referring to Felicity, Celina and him. He usually only remembered that Drew wouldn't be coming back to school the following year when he didn't see the older boy in some classes that had the sixth and seventh years separated.
Connor tried his best to think of a way to bring up the situation with Celina... he wanted to talk about it, to someone, anyone really, but found his options were lacking considerably these days. " Have you... seen Celina around lately? " He finally asked, propping his legs up in front of him, looking to the ground instead of the Ravenclaw.
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Jul 2, 2008 21:59:50 GMT -5
Drew groaned and rolled his eyes good naturedly, not mad about being reminded of his impeding graduation, but nervous about its arrival. He was almost done with his application to the Accademy and could now just pray he'd be accepted.
The Slytherin's words also brought to the forefront what he'd be leaving behind. Not only would he and his classmates go their separate ways, but Drew felt he had also gotten pretty chummy with a number of sixth years. And of course, there was the fact he was leaving Felicity behind. They had discussed things pretty thoroughly and continued to do so, but he still didn't feel better about going ahead without her.
"Just in passing... and in classes," Drew answered Connor's question. The Head Boy had seen very little of his Ravensister, figuring she was spending her free time holed up with that no-good brother of hers. Drew wanted to protect her from Alfonz's brainwashing, but really couldn't compete. "But I think she's coming down with Dragon Pox. She's not looking so great, but won't let anyone know she's not feeling well."
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Connor Manning
Head Boy
Slytherin Seventh Year Quidditch Captain
something in the way
Posts: 737
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Post by Connor Manning on Jul 7, 2008 8:55:01 GMT -5
Connor could hardly imagine already graduating from Hogwarts, but he wasn't sure if Drew felt the same. If it had been the Slytherin leaving both friends and a girlfriend behind, he would be pretty bummed out. Although knowing Drew and Felicity, they would probably stay together despite the location difference. Connor crossed his arms over his chest and let his legs stretch out in front of him as he listened to the Head Boy's response about Celina.
Connor dipped his head down in a small nod, mulling what was said over in his mind for a few seconds. " Wonder how she's doing... " He muttered more to himself than anything, staring down at the ground for a few seconds. He wondered if Drew and him had run out of topics to talk about already. To Connor, it didn't really look like the two had much in common besides the same general friend group at times. Deciding to ask a bit more about plans after graduation, Connor looking back up to the seventh year. " So what occupation are you looking into after school? " Even as a sixth year, Connor wasn't sure on his plans.
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Jul 7, 2008 16:48:03 GMT -5
"I'm sure she's okay..." Drew answered though his words held no real confidence in the statement. The kids who were getting to the nurse quickly were having an easier go at it, but those that put it off or were in denial seemed to be getting it worse.
"I was going to apply for the Auror Academy," Drew answered Connor's question and it bothered the ravenclaw to hear the doubt about it in his own voice. Maybe going through all that would just be too much. If it was, he could always fall back on Quidditch.
"You got any plans for after this place?" Drew asked, trying not to think too much about his own future. "You did the whole career counseling last year, right?"
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Connor Manning
Head Boy
Slytherin Seventh Year Quidditch Captain
something in the way
Posts: 737
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Post by Connor Manning on Jul 9, 2008 21:46:29 GMT -5
The Slytherin lifted his shoulders just slightly, scolding himself slightly for even thinking about her as much as he was. He nodded in a slightly distracted way as he said, " Yeah, you're probably right. " While Drew hadn't exactly sounded the most reassuring, Connor brushed it off. He retracted into himself a little bit, getting a little lost in his thoughts for a second or two. He looked back up to the older boy, though, when he mentioned applying to Auror Academy. " Was going to? Still planning on doing that? " He was curious, but the usually confident looking and sounding Ravenclaw didn't look either of those things as said it.
Connor shook his head, " Nah. I got here right after they did the counseling shin-dig. As for plans after here... I don't even know what I want to do, let alone what I'm thinking about doing. " He smiled slightly, even though it freaked him out that he didn't have a plan. Connor was a plan man, if he didn't have an agenda and a strategy of what he was going to do, it bothered him to no end. He was actually shocked that he was doing so well with everything going unplanned as of yet.
" My dad works at the Ministry, and my mom is a writer. One conventional, the other not so much... What about you, what d'your parents do? "
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Jul 9, 2008 23:12:16 GMT -5
Drew gave a small shrug, not sure if it was jitters about leaving school or something bigger. He'd have to talk to someone and figure it out.
"Going to... planning on... am... I haven't finished them yet so it's still a future tense thing," Drew answered, not exactly answering the way he was thinking. Connor was cool and all, but when it came down to it, Drew didn't know him very well.
"My dad works for the magical government back home," he explained in response to the Slytherin's question. It wasn't the Ministry, but it was pretty much the same thing. "My mom taught Charms and Transfiguration before she had me and my sister. Now she does a lot of charity work."
"So what does your dad actually do in the Ministry? My dad's in Transportation," Drew added, figuring this might be a good way to get to know the prefect better.
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Connor Manning
Head Boy
Slytherin Seventh Year Quidditch Captain
something in the way
Posts: 737
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Post by Connor Manning on Jul 10, 2008 10:39:17 GMT -5
" Ah, gotcha. That's pretty cool, man. How long have you known you wanted to be an Auror? " The sixth year was curious, because maybe Drew hadn't known for a long time what he wanted to do. Connor guessed there were a lot of sixth years who were unsure of the direction they were going in life after school. Although, knowing Drew, even as little as he did, Connor felt almost positive in saying that the seventh year probably knew what he wanted to do for a long time now.
" Back home? Where's that? " He asked, knowing that Drew didn't have a English or Irish accent, or any other accents that seemed to come together at Hogwarts. Connor didn't have one particular accent, either, and he was never surprised to hear about others who were from different places than around the UK such as himself.
" Oh yeah? My dad's in the.. " He stopped for a second before saying the whole name, " Department of Regulation and control of magical creatures. Fun stuff. " He said with a light smile. " Sounds kind of boring to me, most of the time. "
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Jul 10, 2008 18:07:32 GMT -5
"I've been thinking about it since my first year," Drew answered with another shrug, not sure if time was a consideration in his decision. On one hand , he was feeling kind of stupid for rethinking a goal he had been focused and working towards for the past six years, but on the other hand he could help but wonder if it was all just a silly, childish fantasy he should have grown out of by this point.
"I grew up in the States. Just outside of Los Angeles," Drew answered, knowing his accent had gotten muddled from the amount of time he spent on this side of the pond. When he had first come it had been clear what his citizenship was, but by the end of that first year, his friends and family back home said he talked funny. He still didn't have the perfect English accent, and everyone in the UK could tell he was a forgiener, but he knew that it took him awhile to get back into a Californian dialect. He was well accustomed to people asking where he was from.
The Ravenclaw gave a short, friendly laugh as Conner struggled through his father's title. Drew hadn't even bothered trying to give his own dad's formal job. "Naw, that sounds pretty cool actually," he said, knowing it was kind of what Felicity was thinking of doing. Sure one end of the job would be making sure crups had their tails fixed, but on the other end was keeping dragons under control.
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