Lost in Thought (open)

[Hermione Chambers]

Another school day, another office period for me to be at the school. Unfortunately for me, I was quite proactive on my work so all my marking had been done. Since most people were in classes right now, I'd decided to take a stroll around the school since I was required to be there regardless. Naturally, I'd left a note on my door enchanted to let people know where I was.

After a while, I'd managed to wander into the Enchanted Gardens as they were affectionatly dubbed. Personally, I referred to them as Lover's Garden having fallen in love with the story behind them. I made my way to the reflecting pool and sat on the grounds, hoping the calm water would help my thinking.

You see, I was in the middle of a very personal case for me and I'd recently run into some roadblocks regarding it. Since I had nothing better to do than wait for a student to find me if need be, I decided to think on possible solutions. When my time required here was over in a couple hours, I knew I'd spend hours at my desk in the auror department contemplating the same issues.

I read the plaque in the middle of the small pool and smiled sadly at it. While I loved the sentiment, it also brought pain in a reminder of my lost husband. Suddenly annoyed, I swatted the water to cause it to ripple so I couldn't see the plaque anymore. I hated moments where I let my true emotions out unless I was in private, which I wasn't at the moment.

I rolled up the sleeves of my white shirt from my auror uniform and then unlaced my dragonhide boots that I wore with everything, sliding my feet into the cool water, reflecting on the past and hopes for the future once I figured out my case.

So lost in thought, I really didn't hear anyone approach and it wasn't until the hairs on the back of my neck prickled that I became aware of someone watching me. My one hand moved towards where my invisible thigh holster rested while I called out, "Who's there?"

[wingx]

{Hope you don't mind.}


Toph Collena was a Gryffindor first year. She was fire tempered, and, was bored out of her mind. She walked from the castle, which, she had to get used to, adn, which, she wasn't to sure about. She had did much wandering through the day, and, came to a Garden, The Enchanted Garden. She walked until, she heard someone ripple water, then, she stopped.


She listened for a few moments with an intenseity, because, she wasn't sure who did, that, and, given the factor she was blind, it would be hard for her to know where someone was.

She then heard a voice, asking who was there. She waited a moment before finally responding. "Toph Collena. First year Gryffindor, and, Blind." She answered, her voice, almost skin curling. She waited in this silence, which, she would be OK with, for now.

[Hermione Chambers]

A first year? Shouldn't she be in class? Oh, right, blind. Probably new then. Professor Potter would probably allow her some time to get used to the grounds especially with the term getting ready to change in a few weeks. I relaxed my hand against my thigh, no longer as on guard as I had been a moment ago.

I tried to take the harsh tone out of my voice, trying not to intimidate the girl. While my intimidation skills were mostly for show, my facial expressions had always been able to take away some of the sting from my cutting remarks. For someone that couldn't see, I would just sound mean.

"I remember when I was a first year Gryffindor. That was a long time ago. What brings you to this part of the castle Toph Collena?" I kept from facing the girl, instead idly kicking my feet in the small pool. Some unconcious part of me was giving the girl a way to find me, but another part of me was just restless.

{OOC: I don't mind at all.}

[wingx]

Toph waited a second, she then began to move, she was quick, but, slow enough not to trip, since, she wasn't ready to trust these grounds yet. She kept listening, as she listened to the sound of the water, then she listened as a stone hit off her foot, she ingored it's noise, and, kept moving, she moved till she was near the voice. She stopped all movement. She moved her head around for a moment until, she felt she had moved her head enough. She kept her head level, she waited.


She wanted to wait for a moment, more before she spoke again, because she, had to think for a moment. "Who might you be?" She asked, her head had bent down for a second to her left shoulder, almost touching it, but, she held her head a little above her shoulder, because, she was listening, and, she was just thinking, as a way to pass time. She lifted her head up. Listening to the water, she enjoyed that sound. Then she thought of the answer to the question, she had been asked. "Wandering, I need to learn these grounds."

[Hermione Chambers]

Yep, I was right. It's a shame she'll never truly appreciate where she is though. Sight truly is a wonderful thing. I looked to my side where the girl had wandered over to, I guessed helped by the sound of the water, as slight as it was. It doesn't seem to bother her though. Shows a real strength of character, probably why she's a Gryffindor.

I smiled to myself, thinking about my old house. I was the first student to grace the halls when the school reopened and had great times as the Gryffindor seeker and captain, later prefect and head girl. It was also where I'd met Josh. Josh...

A renegade tear escaped from one of my eyes but I brushed it aside, flinging the small drop into the pool. Pulled from my thoughts by movement, I finally answered the question the girl had just asked. "I'm Auror Chambers. I teach dueling tactics here part time. Since most of my students are in class at the moment, I can roam around until I'm needed up until 3 o'clock."

I knew it was more than she had asked for but I'd gotten used to answering follow-up questions with my starting answer. It was a hard habit to break. "So, when did you arrive?"

[wingx]

Toph turned her head to smell the sir, which she did in a quick mannor. She then waited for a second, thinking again, something she did quite often, especially when around people, since, she had never really had that many real friends. She shut her eyes for a moment, then opened them. Her black world, was as dark as night it's self, on a night with no stars, but, she liked it that, way, plus there was no weakness in her, she thought of it this way. Her Blindness is only a disability if she lets it be, but, she would never let it be.


She turned her head back to the woman. She listened to her detailed explaintion. "OK, very pleased to meet you." She said, she walked nearer to the woman. She then used her hearing to hear where the woman's breathing was coming from, once she targetted where her breathing was coming from. She brought her hand, to where she thought the woman's was, and, continued to try to find it, when, she hit her hand against the woman's, she shook, her hand, the best she could, it was the polite thing to do.


She then let go, and, turned her head, she continued to move her head, because, she was trying to hear and smell, because, thats her way of knowing people, by there scent, and, by the sound of their voice. Toph smirked to herself. "Not long ago, maybe, a few hours." Toph answered, then realizing, she had somewhat been rude, by ingoring, Auror Chambers follow-up question. She had just been, well, being unusually polite.[/font]

[Hermione Chambers]

I smirked a bit seeing the resolve in the girl as she tried to find my hand. My smirk transformed into a genuine smile as she found it and I returned her handshake, the traditional greeting. Though she was one of the first students that I'd actually formally introduced myself to when not in class.

Wow, she's even more new than I thought. I'd have guessed a few days by the way she found her way to the best part of the castle so quickly. After she let go of my hand, I shifted so that I was almost hugging my knees to my chest with my feet still submerged in the pool with my arms resting against my knees. "Well, I'm sure that the longer you spend here, the more you'll love it. How are you doing so far on your explorations?"

[wingx]

Toph smirked widely. "Yeah, your maybe right there, I'm just not used to everything here yet, but, it's better then home, where I am treated like a doll, and, am always getting pity from every person in the entire town, I mean come just because I'm Blind doesn't mean I need pity from everyone." She answered to the first part, which, was true, she hated pity, and, was a full force fire about pity, because, she wanted nothing to do with it.

"I am doing quite well, for being here a few hours, and, I can find my way by sound, and, just using my brain power, combined with will power." She said, she had given more then asked, but, she felt like that. She waited for a moment's time before, she finally relaxed, completely. She took a seat on the ground near enough where she could swatt the water.[/font]

[Hermione Chambers]

I can definitely see why she'd be a Gryffindor. She's got the right kind of attitude. It's nice to see that for a change. Normally I see the 'poor me, help me' attitude. "That's completely understandable, I know exactly how you feel. Though in my case, I guess it was more of like a ticking time bomb over a doll to protect."

I frowned slightly, thinking about how everyone had tiptoed around me since Josh died up until a couple weeks ago when I finally was able to put it past me almost completely. I kicked the water particularly hard at the thought. "I think the students around here could definitely benefit from your outlook on life. The world would be a lot better if people thought like you did. You do my old house proud."

[wingx]

Toph turned her head away for a second, she was thinking again, thinking about how many people gave her pity, and, how people always felt sorry, truth be told, she hated the lot of people who felt sorry for her, and, people, who gave her pity. Toph quit her thinking, and, turned her head back. She listned to the wind, as it rushed through the Enchanted Garden, she ingored it.

"Thank you." Toph said, she meant thank you too, because, hearing that her outlook on life was good, and, that the world would be a whole lot better place, it made her really think for a second, and, it made her feel good, and, happy. "Really?" Toph asked, to the second half of Auror Chambers sentence.

[Hermione Chambers]

"Yes, really. Contrary to popular belief, Gryffindor isn't all about foolishly rushing into battle as a sign of courage or being tough all the time. It's having a certain strength of character that allows you to push through situations that are bleak at times; having the courage to go forward in the face of adversity. Yes, we do get several that like to rush headlong into things without thinking, but hey, every house does have some downsides. You probably see more of life and its value better than anyone. I think you'll have a lot of success in Gryffindor."

The water became still again and the plaque was visible so I kicked my feet again to get the ripple going so that I didn't have to see it. Despite that I had let go a lot of my internal emotions, the loss of Josh was still very raw for me and romantic gestures were particularly painful reminders of what I would no longer have with Josh.

[wingx]

Toph listened, and, payed close attention. "Thank you." She said, she felt good about her self still, because, even the bravest, toughest people have to break at one point or another, or, have some sort of downfall, or something, Toph understood everything. Toph waited in another moments silence. Toph heard how the kicking of the ater stopped, then a thrash disturbed it again.


Toph didn't want to invade, or anything by her question, but, her being honest, meant, she would anyhow. "Why do you keep angryly kicking the water, because by the sounds, you seem like something's upseting you, or bugging you... Is there?" Toph questioned.

[Hermione Chambers]

She's very perceptive. I guess she has an advantage of being able to truly listen rather than just watch. Though she probably would have approached me differently had she been able to see me. It also helps that she's new so doesn't know my infamous reputation among the students and even some of the staff.

"It's nothing you need to worry about. I have a lot of things I think about all the time and sometimes I need a bit of a release from the pressure of all the thoughts." It wasn't quite a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either. She didn't need to know my dark secrets especially since she'd only met me a few minutes ago. It wasn't a burden someone unrelated to the situation needed to be burdened with. "Let's just say that I wasn't in Gryffindor for solely noble reasons. I have a bit of that Gryffindor agression in me as well."

[wingx]

Toph only could nod. She didn't want to be nosy. After hearing a reason why, Auror Chambers was placed in Gryffindor, Toph had something to say. "Well, I think I can go along the same lines, I will insult, and, taunt friends, and, I have a cocky attitude, I am fiercely independent, sarcastic, direct, brutally frank, and confrontational. And, I show no respect to authority, and, will battle if someone makes me mad.. and, etc.." Toph said, and, it was true, those were all the many things about her.[/font]

[Hermione Chambers]

I sniggered a little bit as it seemed the girl was showing a little bit of naiveity towards my original meaning. "I never said Gryffindors were perfect. Like I said, each house has its good and bad qualities and most that are sorted well tend to display both sides of their houses. It depends on the person as to whether they have more of the good or the bad qualities."

The water stilled again, and again I stirred up the water again. "I'm not going to tell you that you have to respect your professors here as Merlin knows I didn't all the time. But the one person that you should always respect is Professor Potter, the headmistress. She is one classy woman and deserves everyone's respect for all that she does."

[wingx]

Toph waited, she pondered. Why wouldn't I show her respect, she re-opened this school, and, made this world, a little bit better. Toph then stopped her pondering. "I will always show her respect." Toph said, she then ran her fingers over the water, making some of it ripple. Toph smirked.

Toph turned her head towards Auror Chambers, and, smiled. "What was it like when you were a student here?" Toph asked, she just was wondering.[/font]

[Hermione Chambers]

"It was very lonely. I was the first student here when the school reopened and it took forever before other parent's trusted their kids to Professor Potter. There were also rotating professors since professors seemed to come and go quickly. Eventually, Professor Potter decided to tutor me herself."

I smiled a little thinking of when I was given the opportunity to be tutored by the headmistress herself. "It wasn't until I was in my 4th term that people really started coming around. I met my husband when I was in my 5th term, he was just about to start his second at the time since he didn't receive his letter as soon as the school reopened. There were a lot of problems with the restart. But, I wouldn't trade my experiences here for the world."

[wingx]

Toph listened. She was waitng until the very end to speak. "Thats really cool." Toph said, about the whole thing, then, she had to narrow a few things down though, even if she wondered wheather, Auror Chambers liked talking about this stuff. "What was it like being tutored by the Head-Mistress?." Was the first thing Toph wanted to narrow out, then, a few more.

Toph, was somewhat nosy, but, not too much. She tilted her head, and, her hair nearly fell from it's bun. She sighed. She then waited quietly, as, she pulled her hair down, and, tried to re-do it, she failed each time. Come on, I do this every morning. Her thoughts rattled. She gave in, because, she dropped a pin.[/font]

[Hermione Chambers]

I was quiet for a moment while I contemplated how best to answer the question. My time with the headmistress had been really special because it had given me a glimpse at the woman behind all the legends I'd heard growing up despite that she wasn't much older than me. How could one accurately describe that kind of experience acurately.

"It was definitely never boring. She's very intelligent and she was able to put a lot of practical lessons into perspective. I believe I learned a lot more with her than I would have between all my classes here. It was a shame when she decided to stop teaching History of Magic to focus more on the growing work she had from more and more students enrolling. It's why I'm very protective of her, though she doesn't need it."