time and time again [yori/open]

[marlon]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i52.tinypic.com/otj5sn.jpg); width: 390px; height: 450px; -moz-border-radius: 40px 0px 40px 0px; border-radius:40px 0px 40px 0px; opacity: 0.8; border-right: #7298ac 15px solid; border-left: #7298ac 15px solid;] September had a beautiful effect on Hogwart’s landscape. The leaves were golden orange and covering the ground with all its glory. In Marlon’s opinion, it was always the greatest time of year. However, he may be biased in his opinion that had nothing to do with the reason why most people loved this time of year with reasons such as the beauty and the colours. No, Marlon’s love for September was much more personal than that. The young Slytherin was starting associate the smells and look of Hogwarts in September with the escaping the absolute incompetence of his parents and his dreary life back at Cardiff. There was just about anything Marlon would do to avoid his parents and escape his life of poverty. So naturally, Marlon would take advantage of the lovely weather while it lasted. While autumn at Hogwarts was indeed gorgeous, it wouldn’t be too long that it would grow colder and colder such that he wouldn’t be able to just sit and enjoy the weather and the general pleasure of being able to relax and not think about his family’s financial troubles. The leaves crunched underneath his well-worn sneakers. His cloak fluttered around his ankles as he walked and the autumn breeze brushed past him. Finally, he came to a favourite tree on the grounds. Ever since the ‘fiasco’ from last year, Marlon had started to become wary around trees despite the fact that it was often a favourite spot. However, the Slytherin was not prepared to give up his coveted spot underneath trees. He wasn’t about to let one measly Hufflepuff take his spot away from him. He wasn’t scared of her... or her cat! Blech, cats. Marlon glanced up into the branches of the tree above, looking out for any sign of a cat or the cursed Hufflepuff. With a relieved sigh, Marlon sat down and proceeded to make himself comfortable. Nearly a year ago, the Slytherin had unknowingly sat underneath a tree that had occupied a cat and a supremely annoying Muggleborn Hufflepuff. Even more annoying was the fact that the idiotic Hufflepuff had climbed up the tree to save her cat while being scared of heights and proceeded to get stuck up there herself. And she had the gall to ask him for help. Pah. Meanwhile, the cat decided to use him as a cushion to break its fall. Marlon was supremely unamused by the event. If there was anything he could do, Marlon sought to avoid a similar situation. Marlon pulled out his old notebook, which had been enchanted to hold all the information that it contained. The pages never ran out no matter how much he scrawled in there. For that, Marlon was thankful since he didn’t think he could really afford to keep buying multiple books to support his little habit. The Slytherin liked to watch people. He found that there were so much that he could learn from their behaviour, about their lives. Periodically, he liked to review over his observations for patterns and inconsistencies of people’s behaviours. He was so engrossed in his notes that he failed to realize that someone was approaching his safe haven... or at least it was a safe haven for the present moment.

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made by hay shay @ caution!

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[yori]

Yori always had a certain love for autumn. The crisp air always brought in the transition of the new year at Hogwarts, a place where the hufflepuff had grown to enjoy and prosper in. At least, in theory. She had a niche inside the walls, a place to hide and a place to socialize beyond the simple obligation that came out of being a student. If the teen was honest with herself, she had an easier time adjusting in the magic world than her hometown. She had learned to act on Hogwarts grounds, where people knew less and it was easier to lie about things when people didn't know what to look for. It was a habit, though one not necessarily dangerous in design.

She wanted to be more confident in herself though, which was the only thing she could figure that had possessed her to do what she did. Putting her name in the Goblet of Fire? It would seem almost suicidal to anyone that really knew Yori, or even just met her once. She never had any delusions about being some great hero, or thinking she was capable of getting anywhere beyond the first day. As far as the hufflepuff was aware, it sat at the dumbest decision she had ever made. With any luck though, the goblet didn't have a sense of humor.

Hoping to remove herself from the situation for the time being, Yori had decided it was just as good of a day as any to go for a walk. The lake had always been a favorite of hers to visit. You were never quite sure what sort of creatures popped up while watching the water. Keeping warm with a light cardigan and jeans, the hufflepuff had scooped up her lovely kitten, now about the size of a full grown cat, and set out among the paths. Natsu was always a curious sort, always a few feet ahead of her, prowling the blades of grass for any insects that might come by.

It was about the middle of their walk that she had spotted a familiar face slumped against one of the trees with almost a trademark frumpy face. Almost immediately, Natsu had bolted toward the slytherin boy, likely recognizing him from the year before. Yori couldn't help a laugh as she followed her cat, waving at Marlon in hopes to get his attention. "Hey! Marlon! How've you been~?"

[marlon]

It seemed that he was simply doomed to a life of unhappiness and misery. Marlon had put plenty of time and effort to ensure that he no longer lived the life of poverty that he currently lived with his parents. Certainly a lot of his misery stemmed from a lack of money. However, there were occurrences of events that caused him misery that had absolutely nothing to do with his financial situation. Marlon never thought to think that his life was miserable in any other way. He was so strongly focused on that one aspect of his life that he rarely thought to think of the other aspects. Despite all his precautions and his sincere wishes that he did not run into the Muggleborn Hufflepuff once more, it seemed that their fates were destined to cross once more to his utter dismay. Of course, not that Marlon ever believed in something like destiny. He wanted to alter his destiny. That was why he was a wizard. It was why he came to this school. It was why he attached to himself to only the most rich and powerful of students at the school.

Although Marlon was heavily concentrated on his notebook scrawls, it was only by sheer chance that the Slytherin had seen something zip towards him from his peripheral vision. His head whipped up with incredible speed to confirm his immediate thoughts. He hoped against hope that it wasn’t what he thought it was. Unfortunately, the Slytherin was not so lucky. Marlon’s eyes widened in horror and despair as he saw the dratted now-cat come running towards him. It was near a year ago since he had really had much of an encounter with the beast. However, it seemed that the cat remembered him, and remembered him well. Apparently, Marlon only needed to be the cat’s cushion only once to warrant the cat bounding towards him with such enthusiasm. “No. Don’t you dare.” Unfortunately, it seemed that Natsu did so dare as he nonchalantly nudged aside Marlon’s sketchbook to make himself a space. There were no words to describe just how much Marlon despised cats. They were despicably needy creatures. They desired constant attention and when such attention was not available, they demanded harder. Marlon absolutely refused to cave to their ways.

It was only natural that the cat’s owner would follow closely. The Slytherin scowled unhappily at the Hufflepuff’s much too cheerful greeting. It was clear that he was less than happy to see the chipper Hufflepuff who seemed to think that they were the best of friends. He could hardly flee like his very instincts were nagging him at doing. To do so was to run away from a Hufflepuff and his pride simply wouldn’t allow him to take such a step. He was a Slytherin for God’s sake. He could deal with a Hufflepuff, no matter how Muggleborn she was. Perhaps he could scare her away somehow, despite the fact that his attempts to do so in the past have thus far been largely unsuccessful.

“Bugger off Oshiro. And take your cat with you,” he replied rudely, glaring at the offending cat.

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(( Sorry, I hope you don’t mind that I controlled Natsu a bit. ))