Darker Things Get the Better [Jodi]

[Holden J. Caulfield]

Out of tune;
this tale of terror
The slow tolling of the funeral bell.
I want to know what's going on
in that pretty little head of yours
Where every day is a bone palace ballet!

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His dark brown hair was in his face as he looked to the ground. He wore a white dress shirt that was tucked in. The sleeves of the white shirt were rolled up to his elbows. On his hands were black fingerless gloves but you couldn't see them since his hands were in his pockets. His pants were a dark blue jeans with a black studded belt and a silver razorblade belt buckle. Covering his white ankle socks were black and gray Vans.

"Listen up, sweetie. We all know that you're a beautiful girl. In this horrible world. And this suggestion of horror; the portraits of the walls. The look in their eyes, they always seem to follow. The look in their eyes, they always seem to follow me.

"Out of tune; this tale of terror. The slow tolling of the funeral bell. I want to know what's going on in that pretty little head of yours. Where every day is a Bone Palace Ballet!"

The six foot tall, fifth year Hufflepuff walked to HangOut Park. It was a place he didn't visit often since it was usually overcrowded with students and sometimes faculty. For some reason today no one was there. Maybe it was because of the resent weather.

The weather for today was Holden Caulfield's favorite weather. Favorite by a long shot. The sun and her brilliant raze couldn't be seen. Gray and melancholy looking clouds covered up the whole sky. The wind blew a slight chilling air. It was fantastic. Not hot but not cold but with a slight chilly.

"Biting the flesh from your finger. You know I just can't help myself. I wish to believe but belief is a graveyard. May this night never see morning. It's finally worth it now. Maybe you're the one that's overrated. Shriek and scream. Much too horrified to speak!"

He unshalked [fancy word for 'walked'] to the swing sets. When he got there he turned around and sat down on a red swing seat. Holden didn't feel like swinging really; he just wanted somewhere to sit and think quietly to himself. One of his feet [the left] helped him move back and forth slowly. His hands gribbed the swing chains and his cheek went against his left fist. Holden continued to slowly swing back and forth.

"Out of tune; this tale of terror. The slow tolling of the funeral bell. I want to know what's going on in that pretty little head of yours. Where every day is a Bone Palace Ballet! Every Day! Every Day!"

[Jodi Peterson]

Jodi woke from a chill down her spine. Opening her eyes, she surveyed her surroundings. It was the library. Last thing Jodi remembered she was studying for Charms. Not the practical things, but the written. She'd used the ROR last night to help with that. She'd stopped freezing up as much, but her target was only a dummy. She was just to know if it would work next time on a person. Jodi kept her hopes up.

Jodi piled her books up and walked toward a hidden part of the library. She placed her books down on the ground there, so they would not be sorted by the librarians. She swung her pink bag around her shoulder, and left the library in a hurry. It was getting cold, and the library gave her the creeps when it was a dark day. Like it was haunted or something, [ironic because it probably is.]

Jodi left the library for her dorm. After changing out of her pink jeans and black t, she slipped a fresh t and a light pink jumper over her head. She changed her socks to knee high, to deter the wind and her army boots. The boots where to help if it rained, she wouldn't get stuck in the mud that way.

Without a purpose, Jodi headed to the Hangout Park. A good swing could always be her well. The hangout park held memories for her, not all good but not all bad. This was where she first used her magic outside of class. It was where she had been attacked, the second time, by Ovi. And it was also the first place she'd met Holden. They played their guitars and sung for so long she couldn't remember.

"Speak of the devil," Jodi said, as she looked up from her feet to see Holden on her swing. "I was going to sit on that one," Jodi said in a joking voice. She slumped her body into the swing next to Holden and looked out at the weather. It was too cold for Jodi. Although she wore many layers, the lack of fat which covered her bones made goose bumps appear on her arms.

[Holden J. Caulfield]

The fifth year Hufflepuff continued to swing on the swing just a little bit. His intentions were never to go high but just to keep his feet fermly on the ground. There he would be safe from falling from grace.

The wind blew causing his long bangs to fall in his face. Holden made no movement to move his bangs at all. He was beginning to enjoy having his hair in his face again. It kept him mysterious. But everyone had their hair in their face. Mainstream completely.

"I was going to sit on that one."

The voice made him look up. Jodi Peterson. One of his first friends he had met at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. They had usually been on good terms with each other. But that bear of hers was going to get shot once Holden got ahold of him. >=]

"I didn't see your name on it, Jodi," he smiled at his seventh year friend. His gray eyes watched her sit down in the seat next to him. "How have you been?"

The wind that gave Jodi Peterson goose bumps didn't affect Holden. He loved this weather to pieces. "Cold?," he asked her.

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[Jodi Peterson]

Jodi watched as Holden's hair hit him in the face. He didn't seem to mind, and he did look slightly mysterious, in a good way. Jodi had always loved his hair, she loved guys with emo hair. But then again, she did also like the pretty boys. As long as they kept in neat and clean, Jodi didn't mind either way.

"Did you know this is where we first met. Not here, but on that seat," Jodi said, taking her arms off of the chain and toward a park bench 10 meters away. "You where singing. I walked up to you and we played. Do you remember that?" Jodi said in a mellow tone. She remembered the day she met Holden right as rain. One of the best memories she'd ever had at this school.

Jodi swung on the swings, lifting her feet off the ground. She looked around her, and at her surroundings. She listened to Holden ask if she was cold. This made her think of a spell that could warm her up. Should she, should she not? It was a question Jodi always wondered. If doing too much magic could turn you evil. If it was just better for her to put up with the cold in the short run.

Jodi had heard so many stories about bad witches. There was talk about Voldemort in History of Magic, there was articles about a new dark lord in the daily prophet and every book you read talked about evil wizards and witches. Jodi didn't want to be a bad witch. Doing magic turned some people crazy. Jodi knew all too well also, from personal experience.

Jodi looked down at her arms as Holden did. "I'm cold now, yes. I've been cold a lot lately. No idea why really. Just can't seem to get warm, mainly when it's a windy day like today. Probably need to get myself a hat. You lose most of your heat though there, right?" Jodi said to Holden. She didn't lie to him. She wasn't fully aware that she's lost weight, but her sub-consicence told her something different.

"And I've been good, thanks for asking. Not too much has been happening at the moment. Just a whole bunch of school work. You have exams coming up too don't you. If you need any help," Jodi said, swinging the conversation away from herself... "I'm always here to help. It's not cheating or anything. But I have to study as far back as third year. I should truthfully be able to help, if you want it or think you need it," Jodi said in a caring voice. "Any news on your end?" Jodi questioned.

[Holden J. Caulfield]

Holden did in fact remember how they met. He remembered how he met everyone of his friends. The Hufflepuff nodded and smiled. "I remember it like it was yesterday." And to think Jodi would be graduating after this term. Holden probably wouldn't see her again unless she became a teacher or something. He intended to be the Muggle Studies assistant job or Reversal Squad job when he graduated.

The fifth year bent his head back and looked up at the sky. It was bright but not enough to make him swint his eyes shut. He sighed and then sat up straight. Holden got up from the swing since his butt was starting to get numb from sitting all the time.

"No I'm fine. I have to remember stuff from my first year to now. I remember everything, I believe. Classes this year have been easy so I should be fine thanks. If I do need help I'll hunt you down and ask a question or two...or a million."

He stretched his arms and popped his back. Was there any news on his end. Holden scratched the back of his neck. "I broke up with Jessica since she left Hogwarts. Met a couple new people. Haven't talked to Jackson or Avery at all this term. We've all been rather busy. Studying like crazy. Not all that exciting really." His gray eyes looked to her. "Any news on your end?"

Holden put his hands into his pocket and continued to look at the seventh year.

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[Jodi Peterson]

Jodi swung herself back and forth on the swing, dragging her feet through the dirt underneath. Her black shoes would get dirty, but to Jodi it didn't matter. She was enjoying herself. Although slightly cold, it was good to see Holden again. And good to have a break from her school work.

"You know we've never been fully close and all, but I'm going to miss you when I leave here. I don't know where I'm going, or what I'll be doing but I'll miss this. I'll miss Quidditch and I'll miss friends. It will be weird you know. Leaving. But I know I have to, although trust me I'm not sure I want to."

"You've been studying good hey. Thats always good to hear. I mean, I wouldn't want you failing, cause if you did I'd be out in the real world for 3 terms without you," Jodi said in a joking tone. Although she spoke the words as if they were merely more then a joke, Jodi felt a sadness when she spoke them. She was leaving Hogwarts. She was leaving everything she ever knew behind. It scared her, a lot.

Holden had broken up with Jessica. She had no idea. Usually rumors would be spread about this, but no one had told her. If the rumors hadn't spread through-out the whole school, she at least would have heard someone talk in the common room. She should have guessed. No one could keep a relationship with someone who's in school, when the other person doesn't go to school. This explained why Jodi and Holden didn't have a chance at the moment. Jodi was sure Holden wouldn't let the same thing happen twice.

"I'm sorry to hear about you and Jessie. I had no idea," Jodi said in an understanding voice. She really meant it. "News on my end? Well. Just school. Nothing I haven't already told you. Apart from my cousin is getting married. I'm a bridesmaid and all too. I'm excited but the wedding is in the second last week of school. Just before exams. I have my dress and my shoes and everything. I don't want to let Sarah down, but I don't want to go through with it. I don't know. What would you do, if you were me?" Jodi had a mental image of Holden in her yellow bridesmaids dress. "... Oh and bad mental image there," Jodi said smiling, it didn't look too bad. Maybe it would suit him.

[Holden J. Caulfield]

Holden looked to Jodi as she swung on the swing. It would be odd to have Jodi not in school with him. He had known her since his second year in Hufflepuff and at Hogwarts. It wouldn’t be the same anymore. Who would have that ugly stuffed bear she carried around so much? Teddy and Holden had a fight one time. Very fun time as he remembered it. Teddy might not thing so though. >=]

His gray eyes looked to the ground then he thought of something. Holden rubbed the back of his neck and looked to Jodi. ”You could always become a teacher assistant. There’s bound to be some class that needs help. You could help with Muggle Studies!” If Jodi took that job maybe he could become the Muggle Studies teacher! That would be amazing y’know? Work together. Have field trips!

”I’m ready to get out. I’m going to miss it and everything but this place has its flaws also. I won’t miss it too badly.” Unless I become a teacher or something.

Jodi was sorry about Jessica like so many others. He wasn’t sorry at all; she wasn’t the best girlfriend he had ever had in the world. ”Don’t be sorry. It wasn’t going to work out anyway. I’m not sad over it.” Holden stretched again and blinked. His back popped along with his shoulder and arm. He had never known Jodi to go out with someone. The fifth year had just noticed.

What would Holden do? He wouldn’t go through with it. ”I would tell Sarah that you don’t want to do it. But it’s about how you feel too. She probably has someone else next in line to take your place. Just talk to her about it. Ask if you could do something different for her wedding. Y’know? So you’ll be participating but maybe not with a major roll.”

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[Jodi Peterson]

Jodi looked at Holden with a cheerful yet worried look. Holden wanted her to be a teachers assistant. Little did Holden know that Jodi had already talked to the Headmistress and to Professor Linn about the position she wanted within the school. Still she would need to wait and apply for the job at the end of term. How long away was that anyway? Less then two weeks.

"I was thinking about becoming the new Herbology TA. I really like that class, and I think I'd be really good at it. I don't know... but maybe it would be fun. I mean, it will be fun. Goooot to think positive and all," Jodi said with a smile.

Holden talked about Hogwarts having flaws. Of course it did. Being here gave Jodi more freedom then she could ever have at home. She knew that. Ever since the accident Jodi wouldn't even be allowed out of the house. And if she was she'd need to take her father or mother with her. It seemed like they even watched her when she walked to pat the horses.

She was a horse now... Jodi remembered. Her animagus was a horse. A black masculine horse. Jodi's parents wouldn't be able to stop her from grooming the horses now. She would be able to turn into one and run away. Oh Jodi couldn't wait to show her parents what she could do.

"I know this place has it's flaws. But still to me it's home. I'm too young, sweet and innocent..." Jodi gave a wink. "...to join the real world just yet. I don't think I'm ready for it. I'm sure people that are about to leave get too cocky. They think they'll be fine. I'm not that nieve. It's not as easy as some people think it is. Freedom isn't always such a good thing."

Jodi spoke from personal experience. But she wasn't about to go spill the beans fully to Holden. Not to anyone, never.

Jodi gave a large smile to here that Holden was over Jessica, and that he'd moved on. Thinking more, she wasn't sure if it was just a mask. It was none of Jodi's business if it was, so Jodi kept her mouth shut and said no more.

"The thing is about my family. They have a habit of producing a whole bunch of males, and hardly ANY females. My cousin has no friends either. She probably would have picked my sister since they where very close. But now that my sister isn't..." Jodi gulped. "...around anymore I feel like I should take her place."

Jodi stopped there. Of course Holden knew that her twin had died. Everyone knew. Although not maybe people knew about her Teddy. That her Teddy was Trisha. Well, it was Trisha's birth bear either way. Thats why she had always carried Mr Teddy around with her. Or did Holden already know that too?