words on the wind :open

[fish]

It was decidedly one of the best days outside since Henrietta had begun a new year at Hogwarts. She shifted lazily, causing the leaves on the end of the tree branch she was lounging on to shudder. The sun trickled down through some of the upper branches, and what little shade their was took the edge off the heat. Best of all, a gentle breeze was sweeping over the grounds, sending ripples racing across the lake, and carrying the conversations of other students who were out and about.

Which, of course, was all Henri really cared about.

Her quill raced across the paper as she took notes on the lovers tiff two boys were having. So far nothing exciting had popped up, but you never knew what might be said in the heat of the moment. And, as Henri had been quick to learn, things that now appeared significant could often turn out to be very important indeed. Even as she mused, the blond boy shouted out a stab at the other boy's father. Henri lifted her cold eyes off the paper, her lips curling into a smile as a small scuffle broke out. Delicious.

Henri paused in her writing and arched her back, giving a soft murmur of relief as her joints stretched and popped. She had been sitting up in this tree for a good half hour, and it was beginning to wear on her. But good information didn't come without a price - and Henri was willing to pay just about anything.

[JOSCELINE AVALON NOTT]

Like many others, Josceline was also taking advantage of this gorgeous day. The day's cheeriness was primarily why Josceline had opted to take a walk outside, as opposed to inside as was her habit. The only thing that worried her now was that she may burn from the sun's happy rays. It would not be the first time that she took a joyful stroll only to find out later that she had burned. At the very thought, she frowned and thought it best if she took a break in the shade. She also took this time to evaluate whether or not burning was imminent. Placing her cool palm on her arm, she determined that her skin was warm, but not burning warm.

She wasn't quite sure what pulled her attention away from her thoughts; maybe it was the strange sounds from above either from the sigh or the scratching of quill on parchment or maybe it was the uncharacteristic cast of the shadow. Regardless of what the case may be, something made her look up. With some squinting and her hand shielding some of the sun's rays, she managed to make out the form of a girl perched happily on a tree branch. Normally, she would just leave it at that as many students felt that climbing trees and some artistic endeavour was a wise and fun activity. In her opinion, one was asking to fall and break a very vital part of their body. However, as far as she was concerned, that was their choice. But a particular gesture or the curve of that smile made her realize the identity of said girl, recognizing her as one Henrietta Quicke.

She knew very little of the girl sitting in the tree. In fact, everything she knows about Quicke was from rumours and hearsay, but these rumours were generally not in her favour. In the ensuing silence, Josceline was beginning to hear the argument that enraptured the girl above. She flushed, embarrassed that she was listening to something so intimate and so obviously meant to be private. Annoyed that she was now privy to the conversation, Josceline sought to block it out. Now that she'd heard it, she wouldn't have been able to not hear it without some help.

“Don't you know that it's impolite to eavesdrop?” she said with a tinge of annoyance in her voice as she looked up at Quicke. “Not to mention, documenting an obviously private argument.”

[fish]

Henrietta hunched out, furiously scratching out the details of the argument that had just picked up speed. This is when the really juicy stuff got spilled - when emotions were running high, and common sense, low. Her scribbling was interrupted by a disproving voice that was no doubt directed at her. She paused in her writing, casting an irritated glance toward the earth. She gave a little sigh when she realized who it was - Josceline Nott. Wonderful. Not only was she a do-gooder prefect, she was also a 7th year and therefor her upperclassman. How troublesome. Henrietta swung her legs around, sliding off the branch and landing gracefully a few feet below. She straighten, taking care to smooth out her skirt and straighten her shirt before smile sweetly at Josceline.

"Impolite? Perhaps," she purred, folding her parchment carefully and tucking it safely inside her satchel, "Informative? Absolutely."

Henrietta regarding the girl with grudging respect. They were cut from the same cloth, she and Henri. Both grew up in a sophisticated household, with idealistic and respected Fathers and years of being tutored and honed at home as opposed to a public school. All the same, she felt the girl could be a weak at heart - she was a Hufflepuff after all. Henri glanced over to the argument, which had grown softer during these past few moments. She clucked her tongue in slight disappointment. Oh well. She had enough to interest her clients for a short while at least. Pacified, she turned her attention back to Josceline.

"And how about you, Nott?" she chirped in the same cheerful note as before, "Isn't it your job to stop such scuffles as these? We wouldn't want anyone getting hurt."

This was in no way meant a threat, but Henri knew the little dig was risky. The last thing she needed was yet another fight on her record. Or worse, a black eye. It was hard to fade into the background when you're sporting a shiner. Then again...

Star Prefect Loses Temper and Attacks Younger Student!

Hmm...yes...that headline did have a nice ring to it.

[/blockquote]

[JOSCELINE AVALON NOTT]

Josceline shielded her eyes from the sun to get a better view of the nosy reporter above. Then she couldn't help but look sadly at the squabbling couple below. They were really airing out their grievances down there. Even those who weren't specifically paying attention to them could have heard their hurtful words to each other. And this was not the place to do it, especially with the would-be reporter eavesdropping. It could be argued that there was no safe place for secrets when Henrietta was about. Josceline watched Henrietta as she slid from her position on the branch and dropped elegantly to the ground.

“Information that's not meant for you to know,” she insisted, eying the parchment being into her satchel. As she had wondered many times before, did Henri have any similar parchments on her in that satchel of hers? Who knew how many similar parchments she kept on other people? Knowing the girl's reputation, she likely had a whole tome. An entire chapter's worth of secrets and personal information on the ones who were particularly famous to sell off to the highest bidder. How cutthroat of her. Josceline couldn't help but think that this was the type of person who her parents would like her to be. She could feel a bit of resentment welling up inside her, even though she knew it was absolute nonsense. Henri was not at fault for family's disappointment in her.

Her eyes narrowed at Henri's dig at her, but otherwise choosing to ignore it. It was not in her nature to rise to such blatant tactics. “What about me?” she replied, nonchalant as she glanced over to the couple again to a different scene. It seemed like they had ditched the idea of yelling furiously at each other. Instead, they seemed to have taken up the idea of throwing mud and dirt clods at each other. As someone who had already enjoyed cleanliness, almost to an extreme, she couldn't help but be completely and utterly disgusted by the act. “There doesn't seem to be anybody getting hurt. It seems to me that they're playing now. If prefects got in the way of every student's decisions to play in the mud and dirt, nothing would ever get done,” she explained reasonably with a bit of a patronizing tone. Or at least, she hoped her explanation was reasonably sufficient to get Henri off her back about stopping them. To be honest, she didn't want to have to crawl through the mud and dirt to stop their fighting. And besides, it didn't seem like they were doing any real harm to each other...