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Post by anthea on Aug 30, 2012 14:57:09 GMT -6
It was funny really, how much time a person could spend in one place and still not know enough to keep their curiosity at bay. Hogwarts, as massive as it was, provided only a fragment of familiar territory, but it wasn't so much the castle itself that infuriated Anthea. It wasn't the tiresome twist and turn of an endless corridor, or how each courtyard seemingly engulfed another and another and... No, the castle wasn't a bother at all. What surrounded the castle, however, was. The Whomping Willow was one thing, The Black Lake another. Both were mysteries on their own, but neither could quite compare to The Forbidden Forest.
She'd heard rumours about the forest - dark tales of bloodthirsty vampires and centaurs that could kick through the tallest trees. Muggles had their fair share too - with hungry wolves and masked murderers. Any forest was a forbidden one. The Forbidden Forest? Forbidden.
Still, Anthea found herself seated on the warm grass not far off from the dark forest. She'd found the perfect spot, buried in a cluster of uncut grass that kept her out of sight, and the perfect view of the forest without having to get too close. Nestled in her lap was a tiny ball of fur that shook now and then as it slept - Hop.
It was out of habit, second nature almost, that the two were huddled together at this time of day. Of course, it was always a wiser choice doing her homework in the comfort of the Hufflepuff Common Room, but Anthea needed the silence almost as much as Hop needed the fresh air. She worked quietly, the faint rustle of moving parchment breaking the silence ever so often. It was late afternoon and the grounds were somewhat peaceful. Most students, in any case, preferred to distance themselves from the forest as much as they could.
A few minutes passed by when the cat in her lap began to stir. With a faint twitch here and there, Annie knew almost immediately that he had sensed the presence of someone close by and glanced over her shoulder. "It isn't nice to sneak up on people," she called out kindly, peering over the grass to get a better look. All at once, she felt the corners of her mouth twist into a small smile. If her last encounter with Marlon Delaney was anything to learn from, the best she could have done was turn away and leave him be. It was clear, however, that the Hufflepuff learned nothing as she opened her mouth to speak. "Do you want to sit?"
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