End of Time {open}

[isaac]

It was fall now. He was lucky to be able to be outside in such weather. The trees were stained a variety of yellows, oranges, browns, reds. It was his favorite season. Everything was his favorite season. Nature tended to be his friend. As corny as it sounded, it was true. He could walk through a forest and understand the trees when they murmured to each other. Of course, don't take that to be too literal. He wasn't a freak. He couldn't "speak tree". He just... took the time to listen. That's the way he always worked.

Stand still.

Hold your breath.

Listen.

That's why Isaac was outside right now. He was at the end of the pier. His sneakers were laying abandoned a few feet behind him; his socks, keeping them company. His bare feet, unusually pale, were dipped below the surface of the lake. Ripples scattered in rings, fleeing from his intruding limbs like prey from a predator.

His violent blue eyes were focused on an area in front of him - the horizon. The sun had just touched land, forcing Hogwarts' grounds into a pool of orange light. It was that time of day when everything stopped. A blanket of perfect silence enveloped the area. Nothing but the sun dared to move. It was like the end of time.

Armageddon.

[josie]

((Hope you don't mind :-]))

Josie smiled as her toes sank in the deep plushy grass of the Hogwarts grounds. Her sandals dangled from her fingertips discarded on whim, she'd had to feel the damp grass between her toes. She was weird she fully admitted it. She kicked up the leaves that littered the grounds quilting it in a Technicolor blanket of reds browns greens and yellows.

Josie loved fall. The change in the weather meant winter coats, robes, scarves and gloves were pulled from the bottom of trunks. The nights started getting darker much earlier and when you awoke for class it was still pitch black. The colours were amazing and hot chocolate became a part of every meal.

Rubbing her arms against the cold she made her way down to the lake, the sun was beginning to set and there wasn't a better place in the whole of Hogwarts to witness it. The sun dipping down to meet the icy lake was a picture of pure beauty that wasn't to be missed.

As she made her way down to the waters edge she spotted a boy she hadn't met before, that wasn't hard really but she didn't recognise him either. Which was a little weird. She threw him a smile as she let her toes skim the surface of the lake. She hoped she wasn't interrupting or disturbing him but she felt it was only polite to introduce herself, at least say hello, he could always tell her he wanted to be alone if it suited him.

"Hey," She said a little unsure of herself, "I'm Josie." She paused then added, "Beautiful isn't it,"

[isaac]

[No, not at all. ^^]

And yet, something dared to move.

A warm voice drew Isaac from his mesmerized state, but he couldn't bring himself to peel his eyes from the sunset just yet. The sphere had lowered itself to halfway below the earth now. It released violent sprays of color onto the sky as it retreated, the clouds above it now swimming in beautiful shades of pinks and oranges. "Yeah,

[/color]" he answered quietly, her paused footsteps causing him to turn his head. He looked up at her with a smile. "It is beautiful. My favorite time of day."

His smile lingered while he lifted a hand and motioned with it. "It's nice to meet you, Josie. Please, join me. My name is Isaac." Both hands returned to either side of his waist as he leaned back on them. His bare feet swirled lazily in the chilling water, casting even more uneven ripples across the lake surface. Automatically, his icy eyes shifted to the horizon only to find the sun had dipped even further. The colors were losing their brilliant effect, but it was still beautiful.

"Fall has always been my favorite season. The sunsets tend to be best. When's yours?"[/font][/blockquote]

[josie]

Josie smiled as he told her it was his favourite time of day, she loved sunset too, sunrise was amazing as well and so different contrary to popular belief. It was amazing how different the two times of day were.

She smiled, "Its nice to meet you too," She loved meeting new people especially when you least expected it. Josie hadn't thought anyone would be out at this time, the Great Hall would be streaming with students, the evening meal was being served and the chatter would be bouncing from the walls. Josie had needed a quieter atmosphere.

She made to join him at the end of the pier, last term she hadn't been sure she trusted this structure, it didn't look safe at all. But now she walked to the end confidently, dropping her shoes with a soft thud near where he had discarded his own.

Crouching down she let her long legs drop over the side and took a seat beside him. It was so quiet and peaceful. The lake was the picture of tranquility, completely still apart from the soft ripples coming from their feet breaking the surface of the water.

"I've never seen anything quite like a Hogwarts Fall Sunset." She commented as her bright eyes stared transfixed as the sun dipped ever lower.

"I love fall to," She replied, "But I think Winter has to my favourite," She finished with a soft smile.

"I'm looking forward to seeing the change around here when Winter starts," She could imagine the castle grounds covered in a blanket of snow footprints the only mark in the crisp whiteness. Frosty windows and an ice covered lake. But for now she would enjoy Fall and its many wonders.

[isaac]

"Nor have I," Isaac agreed to her comment about fall sunsets. His eyes were still transfixed on the horizon as he continued, "I used to think no where could compare to home, but I think Hogwarts is giving it a run for its money." As much as he hated to admit it out loud, Josie was right. There probably was no where else like here. Everything about this place made him feel comfortable. He wasn't even nervous about talking to another stranger. It was probably because he was so comfortable outside.

If only he had been outside when he first met Chelsea. Maybe the meeting would have started more smoothly and he wouldn't have come off sounding like a childish wimp. Ah well. What's over is over. He couldn't change anything now. Whatever Chelsea thought of him would just have to stay that way until he got a chance to talk to her again. He wasn't even sure why he cared what she thought. Was it because she was another Ravenclaw? Possibly.

"But you like winter best?" He ventured, the faintest hint of a smile teasing the corners of his lips. "I used to favor winter at one point, but I was never a fan of the blinding white that comes with it. Snow and I never agreed with each other." The smile quit playing games and had stretched across his lips by now as he turned his head to look at her. "I suppose this place is magnificent when blanketed in snow. We'll just have to wait and see, won't we.

[/color]"[/font][/blockquote]

[josie]

Josie smiled at his comment about home, "I used to have the same feelings but looking at this, it just amazes me every time I see it." She confessed, "Where is home?" She asked him, wondering how different it was to here.

Josie laughed, "Yes the blinding sheen from the sun hitting the snow can be a bit much," She agreed, often she had come outside to a yelp of surprise as she was blinded by the snow but she couldn't help but love it.

Josie smiled, "So I guess a snowball fight is outta the question," She joked when he mentioned he didn't agree with snow.

She sighed softly oddly content sitting outside with someone she had never met until now, it was said you found friends in the most unlikely of places, Josie hoped it was true she felt . . . comfortable that was the word she would use.

"I can just imagine the forest and the Village all looking like something out of a snow globe or a Christmas card." She told him she wasn't sure why she just felt like sharing. "I love the feeling winter gives you as well." She added. Maybe that was more accurate, she loved Fall but she loved the feeling of Winter. She smiled at her random thoughts as she watched the sun dipping further in to the lake, It was like it was sinking beneath its depths until morning.

"Yes," She agreed softly placing her hands by her side and leaning back slightly, "We'll just have to wait and see."

[isaac]

Where was home? That was a good question. Isaac wasn't sure how he was going to answer it. He wasn't about to spill out his whole life story. It's not like she asked for it, either. "I've had a lot of homes." He decided, nodding in a light-hearted manner. "But right now my family is living in Montana. We used to live in Florida, but, for whatever reason, my uncle decided that Montana would suit us better.

[/color]"

He smiled at her before returning to the lake. That really had been the truth. He didn't know why his aunt and uncle decided to move them to Montana. He'd once concluded that it was to escape the memories they'd leave behind in Florida. Was it really that? Would his uncle run from his brother's memory like that? Really, Isaac didn't want to find out. Things happened for a reason and he best leave it at that. No use meddling with the past. It wouldn't change anything in the present.

When she mentioned a snowball fight, he chuckled. "Oh, I dunno. I might be able to spare a snowball fight for you. I can't promise more than one, though. Like I said, snow likes to be my enemy." His head jerked to the right when he laughed, forcing shaggy brown hair out of his eyes. Though the topic managed to shift away from home, he couldn't help but come back to it again. The laughter died from his eyes as his head turned and he gazed at her for a heartbeat of silence.

"I can't help but wonder, Josie, where's home for you?"[/font][/blockquote]

[josie]

Josie listened attentively as he spoke, was it her or was there a sad note to his voice? She wanted to ask him about it, there seemed like there was more to the story but she didn't press the issue. She had to remind herself she had only just met him and somethings he might not want to talk about, she respected that.

"Wow, I've never been to America," She told him, she'd been to many places but that had never been one of them, she wasn't sure why it just had never come up. One of the many unanswered questions that were ignored or discarded around her house. "Do you like it in Montana?" She asked.

She smiled when he laughed and grinned when he agreed to a possible snowball fight, "I'll hold you to that," She promised with a teasing smirk. "There sounds like theres a story there," She said with a smile, "How does one become snows enemy?" She asked genuinely interested.

Josie's smile faltered when he asked her about home, obviously the question would be reversed but she never really thought about it, well Josephyne Felling, you better start thinking about it now!

"I live here in England," She said careful not to call it home, she didn't consider London home or England for that matter and contrary to what her father kept telling her she didn't think she ever would. After a moments silence she added, "Just outside London if you want to be precise," She used to live in Somerset where her dad was from but now she only visited from time to time as that was where her Grandfather lived, apparently the quiet had been to much for her Dad.

"I was born in Italy though," She said the smile returning to her lips and the light back to her bright Green eyes, "Thats where I would call home."

[isaac]

"Yep," Isaac responded to her question about whether or not he liked Montana. "America is a pretty alright place to live, despite the rumors. If you would ask me to pick between Montana and Florida, though, I wouldn't be able to.

[/color]" There was no smile on his lips when he spoke about those states, but he wasn't necessarily sad. It was just a monotoned subject that would be brought up by everyone eventually. Home was home. Like many things, he'd leave it at that. As you may have noticed, Isaac wasn't one to pick and prod at the unknown.

Josie's comments about snow was the thing to cause his next smile. "Yeahh,[/color]" he laughed, leaning back further onto his hands. His shoulders buldged upward and dug softly into either side of his neck. The sun was gone - his eyes were on the water. "I do have a pretty interesting history with snow. You sure you want to hear it?" His question was more of a playful challenge than anything. Heh. This Josie girl was turning out to be pretty cool.

Isaac fell silent after Josie allowed the topic to flow back to where they would call home. She sounded like the type of girl to get around and see places. In a way, he admired that. It made her more interesting in the end. But, just like him, she didn't sound to eager to chat about personal business. You know: home, family, life... That was deep stuff that could be shared once they got to know each other better. Notice how he is certain that they'll get to know each other better? Yeah. Take note of that. That's rare right there.

"Wow,[/color]" Isaac mused, smiling a little after she finished talking. "You kinda sound like me - can't keep your feet planted in one place."[/font][/blockquote]

[josie]

Josie grinned as he mentioned the snow, "I'm sure I can handle it." She said in a mock serious tone. She was actually really interested in what he had to say. He was proving to be really good company. She was glad she'd decided to take that walk after all.

Josie tilted her head to the side as she watched the moons reflection bounce along the water. The sun was fully down now and darkness had fallen leaving the Moons glow as the only light source. It cast everything in a beautiful mellow light and made everything seem softer. Bringing her feet out of the water she brought them up on to the pier and crossed them beneath shifting slightly so she was half facing the lake and half facing Isaac.

She laughed as he mentioned not being able to be in one place for long, "I'm terrible for that." She said through her giggles. "I am a natural fidget."

She knew that wasn't exactly what he meant about keeping your feet in one place but it was true Josie just couldn't physically keep still for very long, she supposed that was why she hadn't minded so much when her family was moved around so often.

[isaac]

"That's not really what I meant buuuut I guess that works too." Isaac laughed, his head shaking from side to side as he did. Josie was turning out to be quite a bit of fun. Sure, she may have interpreted his comment about planted feet the wrong way, but it didn't matter. She had a sense of humor - that was good. He was still chuckling when he looked at her, "At least it's out in the open that you're a fidget, eh?"

"But anyway, since you're so up for this exciting story, I think I'll tell you while the night is still young." Isaac accepted her challenge with a smile, drawing his feet from the water. The cooling night air was like ice on his numbed skin, so he tucked his feet beneath him, crossing his legs Indian style. He shifted to lean against the pole on his side of the end of the pier, his back causing the old wood to groan. While he situated himself, he said, still smiling, "Alright, so, I think I was about five when it all began...

[/color]"

There was a pause for dramatic effect.

"My family had just moved from Florida, which has no snow; to Montana, which has a lot. We moved during the summer, so I wasn't prepared for what winter would bring. Ohh man, that was a big mistake. It's a higher altitude in Montana than Florida, so everything's naturally colder.[/color]" Another pause to catch his breath. "One morning, I woke up and everything was bleached white. I wasn't old enough to go to school, so my cousin, Logan, and I basically got to play outside for most of the day.[/b]

"That sounds like fun, right? Well, it wasn't. It was my first encounter with snow and Logan thought it'd be cool to make a snow fort. I helped him, and when it was done, he told me to climb in and check it out." There was the faintest hint of a smile on his lips as he continued. "I wiggled in and what does Logan do? He hops on top of the tunnel and makes it collapse on me. To make it even worse, he leaves me there for almost fifteen minutes crying my eyes out before he decides to come with my aunt to help dig me out. Ever since that darn snow tried to eat me, we've never agreed. It tries to eat me; I melt it. You can see how that doesn't work out well.[/color]"[/font][/blockquote]

[josie]

Josie laughed at her own silliness she'd known that wasn't what he meant, thoughts just came in to her head so she said them, it was unfortunate really. "It was a warning really," She told him pretending to be serious. She had the voice down but she couldn't help but crack a smile, she'd have to work on that! "Just for future reference!" Yep she could see them hanging out in the future and she wanted him to be prepared.

Josie grinned as he began his story. She hadn't realised how much she had actually wanted to hear it. He had her full attention, her bright green eyes fixed on his. She smiled as he got in to his story, adding dramatic pauses and the likes. She bit her lip as he told her about the fort, it did sound like alot of fun she couldn't see the problem.

Oh!

She gasped in mock horror at his encounter. She could imagine it was quite scary for a five year old but it amused her just a little. "Thats terrible," She told him with a smile. "I see the problem," She added, "Maybe one day you can be friends." She finished throwing him a teasing smile.

"Did you ever get your cousin back?" She asked as the thought came in to her head, see it's like a disease! She could quite see a prank war unfolding forming an amusing chain of events.

[isaac]

Isaac couldn't help but grin from ear to ear. This Josie girl was pretty alright. First friend possibility? Hm. He wasn't sure. It was their first meeting. Bah. Who cares. It's not like she's going to turn out to be some sort of freak with eight arms or anything. His grin grew wider at the picture of Josie + eight arms in his mind. Gawd. Something's wrong with his mind. He just couldn't stop himself from thinking bizarre things. Betcha there's medicine for that. Guarantee it.

"Oh, I don't know,

[/color]" Isaac said in a mock-serious tone when she voiced her opinion about him and snow being friends one day. "Ever since that day I've had the worst luck in winter time. I swear it's just out to get me. Like it tasted me and wanted more or something. It's a horrid way to live." He finished his sentence with a drama-queen sigh and a playful hand to his forehead. Fluttering eyelashes included. Wow. Isaac was really loosening up. Doubt you'll ever see him like this again. Feel lucky, Josephyne Felling, feel lucky.

"But no," His laughter faded with a shake of his head. He appeared to be normal, sober self again while he thought about whether or not he got payback on Logan. "I don't believe I ever did. I may have to ask him.[/color]" He paused and smiled at her, a sudden spark developing in his sky-blue eyes. It was one of those mischevious smiles. Oh, child, beware.

"Know what I think? We should include Logan in this snowball fight..."[/font][/blockquote]

[rain1994]

(sorry but i couldn't resist snow, revenge and weather talk) Rain watched the two talking from afar. As she was sitting in the water already she decided to swim over. Diving beneath the water she glided smoothly under surface until she reached the students. Her head bobbed above the surface as she treaded water slightly. "i'm sorry but i heard talk about snow and revenge. Mind if i join in?"

[josie]

Josie noticed the wide grin spreading across Isaacs face, what on earth was he thinking about, whatever it was it seemed to be keeping him amused, she could only imagine what weird and wonderful things were going on in that head of his.

Josie laughed out loud at his next statement, she could actually imagine the snow wanting more and that amused her greatly. Isaac was turning out to be alot of fun. She'd been here a whole term already and she couldn't actually remember having this much fun with anyone and all they were doing was talking really,

Josie nudged him playfully at his dramatic show, "What if I was to promise to protect you." She said with a grin, "Watch your back for any stray snow that might be out to get you." She giggled at the thought, hey it was Hogwarts anything could happen.

Josie caught the mischievous smile Isaac was now sporting and her eyes widened in anticipation, what was he up to? A small smile crept on to her lips as she imagined what it would be like to have that smile be about you, it clearly meant trouble was coming your way. She smirked as he voiced his brain wave.

"I like the way you think." She told him with a mischievous smile all her own, she could tell she was going to have a lot of fun with Isaac, oh his cousin better watch out.

Josie was quite startled by the arrival of another student, she'd been sure they were the only two out this late, and she couldn't imagine how they hadn't spotted her earlier. She threw her a small smile, how on earth was she swimming at this time, she'd only had her feet in the water and they were still numb. She shrugged her slender shoulders, and looked at Isaac he was the one who'd been out here initially she figured it was up to him.

[isaac]

[Gahh! I'm really sorry for the delay. =/]

"Hmmm...

[/color]" Isaac lifted a hand to his chin, scratching it in a mock-thoughtful kind of way. "I may have to take you up on that offer, Josie. If snow ever did decide to gang up on me, I'd like to be warned about it before it happened." His grin was gigantic again as he mulled over just how good of a bodyguard Josie would make if snow ever did retaliate. She was smaller than him, so she'd probably get dominated, too. Ah well. At least he wouldn't go down alone.

The Ravenclaw continued to sport his smile while he leaned back a little further against the pier's ending pole. It groaned in protest, but he ignored it. The back of his head thumped dully against the aged wood. Absently, his gaze lifted to the sky. Starts were starting to sparkle like fireflies. If the conversation remained as lively as it was turning out to be, they might just miss curfew. Hopefully there weren't any Prefects creeping about. He wasn't in the mood to get caught or punished. Blech.

Josie's agreement about involving Logan in their snowball fight roused him from his thoughts. He lifted his head, smiling. He was about to give some cleverly sly comment when a new voice distracted him. Isaac's head turned, searching for the voice's owner. There was a girl in the inky water. He gave an inward shudder. Wasn't she freezing her butt off? It was cold just sitting here. The water probably didn't help.

"Hey... join in, if you want. I'm Isaac. Aren't you cold?"[/font][/blockquote]

[josie]

Josie laughed, "Well I don't know how much help I'd be." She told him pretending and failing once again to be serious it was a good job she didn't take Drama as she wasn't very good at all this acting stuff. "There is an awful lot of snow compared to the two of us," She said grinning, "But hey we could give it a go." She finished determinedly.

She smiled at the girl as Isaac introduced himself, "I'm Josie," She told her cheerfully, she'd met two new people tonight she was rather happy. She didn't know about the girl they hadn't really spoken but she could see Isaac as a future firm friend, that made her smile softly to herself before she brought herself out of her thoughts and back to reality.

"Oh look." She said glancing up wards. She'd never seen so many stars before. The country was definitely a better place to see them than the city she lived in now and she couldn't really remember a night in Italy vividly it had been so long ago. But here in Hogwarts it was like the stars were shining in earnest as if they were shining just for them.

"Thats almost as breath taking as the sunset." She said eyes still cast skyward. She could see herself coming out here more often at this time, it was amazingly peaceful and a beautiful sight.