Birds of a Feather (Chloe)

[Logan Renly]

In his school years Logan had spent a lengthy amount of time in the Forbidden Forest. He was a very introverted soul always looking for solitude and the quiet. The Forbidden Forest had offered the perfect location to reside. With all the creatures and odd things lurking in the dark why this was where Logan belonged. And for this matter Logan most likely knew more about the dwellings of the forest than most…

Logan sat outside in the middle of a grassy meadow on the far west of the Hogwarts grounds. A large feathery creature at his side curled up in a ball to which Logan rested a hand atop it affectionately.
They were in a fairly scenic area of the grounds, right where you could partially see the lake and also quite close to the Forbidden Forest. It was a beautiful day and all Logan really wanted to do was sit in the sun and enjoy some brief time with his pet. She would no doubt leave any given moment, not being one to give too much affection.

Warts was a large goose which Logan had fondly named after his cousin Straw Buckett(Or rather Straw’s name backwards).
The not-so magical goose had sadly died a few years back and Logan had been very sad without her. However the odd thing was that before Warts had passed on she had left a few eggs behind. Logan carefully nurtured the eggs until finally they had hatched. Unlike Warts though these little geese hadn’t been very fond of Logan and had been a lot more wild, despite him raising them they had ended up leaving him. All but one, who Logan had named Warts, again. Like a sad cat lady who renames all her cats the same thing Logan had proceeded to call all of the geese Warts. The poor young man was still very upset about loosing his first goose.

This new Warts was a temperamental female goose, usually only approaching Logan randomly when she was hungry or wanted some brief attention. The overly large creature was actually quite a lot like Logan. Residing in the Forbidden Forest and often only visiting Logan for short periods of time… Much like what he did to his own friends. Not that I really have friends anymore really…

“I think you’re really selfish lady.” He said to the large goose frowning a bit and then sighing to himself as he gave her a pat. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

[Chloë Delacroix]

Apparating between France and here was really quite tiring and Cleo was getting annoyed. The 4’9” nuisance really should’ve been out trying to get her job or a place or something more useful than wandering back to the only place that ever felt like home. Chloë’s youth had successfully been washed away in the Black Lake. Feeling old and reminiscent, the Delacroix had climbed silently into a tree on the edge of the forest to pout.

She could sit there for hours, perhaps even days, but today Chloë was quite contented in her peace in a tree. Her eyes closed and breathing slow, she could stay forever lost in fond memories. Blue jeans—as she was trying out this thing in which she acted like an adult and didn’t climb trees in dresses—and a black blouse with chucks. Besides a few dark circles under her eyes, the petite Delacroix didn’t look a day over her seventh year. Perhaps she could just return, by now no one would have heard of her. Unfortunately Headmistress Potter and the professors probably hadn’t forgotten her and would promptly kick her out.

Unaware of her surroundings, it came as quite a shock to hear the voice of someone else. He called you selfish, Chloë. She scowled, “well that’s rude.” Her words came without a thought. Leave it to Chloë to trust the voices in her head. Hell, she hadn’t even seen where the voice had come from. Perhaps she was completely alone and it was all in her head. She dropped down from the tree, her long black hair a frightening mess of curls and tease. Yup, someone was there.

I told you.

“Fous-moi la paix." She covered her mouth with a gasp, realizing what she had said aloud. It was quite rude herself and the ramblings of a lunatic. How often do sane girls tell the voices in their head to leave them the hell alone? Do sane girls have voices in their head? Was it normal to see a man talk to a goose? Needless to say, Chloë was very confused. She looked down at her feet for a long minute, trying to regain her composure.

Finally removing her hand from her mouth she looked to the man with the bird, tilting her head to the side for a moment eyeing them curiously before shaking it off. “S-sorry. I, I thought I was alone.” The words tasted awkward in her mouth and she looked helpless.

[Logan Renly]

Logan sat there contemplating the goose wirily. People had mocked him in the past for having a pet goose, but he had equally argued back their stupidity for not having one. Fantastic companions. Then again Logan’s general opinion on companions was generally anything with eyes and legs. And yeah, there were lots of things with eyes and legs in the forest…

At the sudden sound of another Logan flinched as if someone had perhaps thrown cold water on him. Please don’t be Hermione he thought wincing a little. She probably wouldn’t be too keen on Logan and his pet roaming the Forest. He had been trying to keep his current residence on the down-low. Logan slowly looked around to find with great relief that it wasn't Hermione but another female.

“So did I?” The words came out as more of a rude question and Logan shock his head a little realising this. “I mean, nobody comes out here anymore.” He smiled a small apologetic smile eyeing her a bit. “I’m more accustom to people not really seeing me little alone finding me hah.” More stupid words came from his mouth and Logan frowned at himself looking down at the goose. Warts had decided to lazily snake her head up and gaze at the girl obviously assessing whether it was safe to remain on the grassy field or flee. Logan gave her a reassuring pat, “don’t worry Warts she wont eat you. Maybe.”

[Chloë Delacroix]

Now would have been a great time for Chloë to disappear off into the shadows like she was so very good at. In fact, one could say she was as good at that as she was at making severely awkward situations. Leave it to Chloë to talk to herself out loud and make everyone terribly uncomfortable. Surely the man and the goose were as confused by the situation as Chloë and her voices were. If not, he was terribly lucky and she was very envious.

Just as Chloë was about to scowl at his remark he changed it. Confused, she was beginning to think he was too. Reassured in her own delusions, her dark eyes no longer hesitantly eyeing him, even the voices seemed to agree he wasn’t going to harm her for intruding. He probably pities you. Chloë frowned, she really needed to differentiate the voices from reality. A slight twitch and a shrug of her tiny shoulders brought her out of her internal debate long enough to respond. “I thought… I was the only one.” She gave a rather pathetic smile, brushing her messy hair out of her face.

But the man had looked away from her to the goose and the Delacroix was caught. She eyed the goose back with the same fearful suspicion. Although she was more afraid of other people than any animal, Chloë could not remember the last time she’d been eyed by one and was now rather afraid. Her head cocked to the side as she looked at the goose intensely like a small child trying to figure out a puzzle. Her nose scrunched at the strange man’s words. “No, no. I won’t eat your… pet.”

[Logan Renly]

“Perhaps you’re a vegetarian then?” Logan smirked. The young man was actually in a fairly good mood today and company didn’t seem like such a bad thing compared to how it usually would. For this reason before even thinking it through properly Logan found himself asking the girl with sincere interest, “whom may I ask are you?”

Apparently satisfied enough with their civil words being exchanged, the goose snuggled her self up against Logan’s knee and started to doze off once again.

“It’s a rare thing. To see anyone these days,” Logan continued thoughtfully. “Here I mean anyway.”

[Chloë Delacroix]

”Actually, I-I just think it’s more likely to eat me…” Chloë’s words were a little less hesitant as she straightened back up. Her black eyes lingering on the goose a few moments longer before turning to the man as he spoke. He was certainly unfamiliar. The Delacroix was certain she’d recognize someone with such a unique pet—but then again, she wasn’t entirely sure she could recognize her own self in the mirror.

The tiny girl was rather surprised when he encouraged further conversation. So few strangers could tolerate her stumbling through her words or talking to herself. “Ch-Chloë Delacroix,” She responded after clearing her throat. Perhaps you should clarify that you aren’t a student. Resist. Or maybe you should tell him your job. Resist, you don’t have one. Ask his name, Chloë. Wow. Decent advice. “And you are?” She asked, chewing upon her lip nervously. Hopefully the stranger hadn’t noticed her long pauses.

Another quick glance at the goose told Chloë it was sleeping. A deep breath and the middle Delacroix sat down a foot or so away from the man. Her eyes lazy and focused on her surroundings, she’d really missed it here. “Anywhere, I think.” But the realization that her words made no sense to any civilized being made her frown and bite her tongue. Nice going, Chloë.

[Logan Renly]

Logan raised his eyebrows in amazement dwelling on the thought of Warts eating the lady. "Well, I suppose she probably could.." He mumbled slowly in a thoughtful manner. Imagining Warts attacking someone didn't seem that odd, perhaps eating them was a little extreme but then again she was a fairly wild creature. Logan honestly wouldn't put it past her. "The amount of times she's bitten me anyway..." He trailed off before realising Chloe had joined him on the grass. It felt strange to be in another person's company, sitting with them, pleasant but odd. The situation felt like more of a nice memory than actual reality.

"Pleasure to meet you Chloe, I am Logan Renly," Again how odd to be introducing your self to someone. Thinking back it had been years since Logan had met anyone new that was a human. He smiled a little processing everything before continuing.
"I see you came from the forest do you live there?"

[Chloë Delacroix]

Oh God! The bird could eat her?! A terrified look fell upon her face and she took a small step back. Relax. Inhale, exhale. Geese don’t eat humans, right? Chloë chewed at her lip fearfully, eyeing the goose again. But the tiny girl fought back against her fears and swallowed her anxiety. She took a seat on the grass. She crossed her legs neatly and buried her hands in the grass next to her.

Surreal. It was the only way Chloë could fathom her situation. Most people tended to walk away slowly from the tiny girl and pretend they’d never met. Not that the Delacroix could blame them, she didn’t even like herself most of the time. No, no. That wasn’t true. She just no longer liked what she had become. “N-nice to meet you too, Logan.” A small, pleasant, and unsure smile formed upon her lips in return to his.

Taking a quick glance back at the goose, making sure it hadn’t had a change of plans in which it would eat her, the tiny girl returned her attention to Logan. A few giggles began to escape her chapped lips as he asked if she lived in the forest. Comfortable—or at least at ease—she shook her head. “No, I’ve been staying in France with my sister.”

[Logan Renly]

"France? Hm interesting. What brings you here to this School may I ask?" Logan looked to the girl wondering silently if perhaps she was lying to him. Random things and people always came from the forest.. Maybe this girl was from France maybe she wasn’t. Who really knew? Although, Logan felt he had a reasonable idea of the Forbidden Forrest and what resided in it. So it came as no surprise that she had responded as such.

Over the years Logan had found himself to become very sceptical of others, he had become somewhat paranoid. Most likely from being alone for so long, the lack of interaction with people had finally had its effect. This would of course have to change and Logan knew he would have to get over his content isolation from everyone. Especially now that he was the School’s grounds keeper... He would be interacting with a lot more witches and wizards young and older.

A social butterfly? Doubtful.