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Post by markus on May 22, 2012 18:53:30 GMT -5
There was always something Sirius loved about the Black Lake (and no, it was not it's horribly punny namesake). It was deserted and quiet most of the time, as well as just plain gorgeous with it's surrounding mountain ranges and trees that must have been hundreds - nay, thousands of years old. It was just a good place to think, really, and with the amount of thinking the dog-Animagus needed to do as of late, it was the perfect place.
A smooth, flat pebble skid across the lake's surface, connecting with the murky waters a good four times before it disappeared with a soft 'plunk'. The smallest of smiles spread across Sirius' face and he reached for another stone from his little pile, having gathered a good few on his way over to the lakeside. This one only skipped three times, but it went farther, which still made it a toss that pleased him.
The Gryffindor was dressed in his uniform - or, rather, a few pieces of it. He had discarded his outer robes and blazer, as well as his striped tie, these articles lying in a messy pile beside of him. His shoes were resting atop these, socks roughly shoved inside, leaving the former heir in his dress trousers and white dress shirt. Said shirt's top three buttons were undone and it's collar popped, exposing the tiniest bit of chest hair. He was comfortably seated just at the edge of the lake, propping himself up with his right arm and tossing stones with his dominant left. His legs were both extended, spread apart just enough for comfort, and the Marauders' Map lay in his lap, deactivated for obvious reasons. It had been active just minutes before, however, when the dog-Animagus had been scanning the area for professors, glad to find it clear. He was pretty sure he couldn't get in trouble for sitting by the lake in the middle of the afternoon, but professors were spoilsports and he didn't want to be dragged inside just yet.
The Gryffindor ran his hand through his hair, sighing softly.
He was away from all of the stress...away from all of the pain. He should be happy. Relieved, even. And, in a way, he was. He was happy to be rid of the family he never belonged in. He never wanted to talk to them again, he never wanted to see them again, he never wanted to think about them again...
...Then...why could he think of nothing but them?
(( Open thread of open-ness. Somebody distract poor Paddicakes so he doesn't have to brood all afternoon. xD ))
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Post by jamespotter on May 23, 2012 16:23:56 GMT -5
James Potter knew that his friend was stressed. He knew this because they were like brothers, having met for the first time only five years ago on the Hogwarts Express. Sirius had been loyal as a dog to him over the years and so James felt knew that he had to be the one to help. And with possible places flashing through his mind like a freight train, the wizard knew that there was only one that his devoted companion would go into in a time like this. So here James was – walking down to the Black Lake where he would find a pensive teenager worrying about the things that came close to colliding with his world. What specifically was bothering Padfoot James didn’t know but he would find out. He’d feel responsible otherwise.
The wood was starting to clear. Each tree towered over James, taking its lead from the one before as he moved closer and closer to the lake. With each step, James knew how to approach the situation that he had laid out in front of himself. He would not stack on the pressure for a confession immediately – ease into the conversation. Padfoot drawing away was not his aim. Any possible denial needed to be confronted.
Now at the beck and call of the sight in front of him, James had found his best friend. The fifteen year old observed his classmate as he skimmed stones on the calm water. James made the final walk over to the shore line, following Padfoot’s lead in removing the weight of his robes. Watching Padfoot’s latest attempt to skim a stone, James smiled. “Not bad there, Padfoot. Bet I could skim one further though.” James reached down to pick up a pebble when something caught his eye – the Map. Sirius knew he was coming. “And there I was thinking that my arrival would be unnoticed.” James had not anticipated that his company would have the map that he helped create. The assumption was that it had been left up in the dormitory or in the hands of one of the other Marauders. Maybe easing into the situation had gone out the window.
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Post by markus on May 23, 2012 16:57:54 GMT -5
Sirius was glad he had taken a brief pause in his stone-throwing to reactivate the Map - otherwise, his best mate would have succeeded in his attempt to catch him by surprise. The little banner with James' name on it danced through the trees on its way towards the lake, the dog-Animagus watching it with some apprehension, hoping against hope that the stag-Animagus was just horribly lost or looking for an altar to Lily Evans someone allegedly erected in the woods. But, of course, this was not the case, and the bespectacled Gryffindor was beside him shortly thereafter, flashing the former heir one of his golden smiles.
He slapped on a somewhat-forced smile in response, chuckling softly at his friend's words. He was about to say something along the lines of 'in your dreams, Potter', but James speaking again cut him off. "No one can sneak up on the great Padfoot, Map or no." He declared, the corner of his mouth curling upwards into a slight smirk. "Either way, you would have failed in your most pointless quest."
The former heir selected another stone and gave it a nice toss, managing five skips this time. The smirk on his face grew and, despite his misgivings on James' abrupt arrival and his genuine want to be alone, he gestured to the pile, inviting the stag-Animagus to take one. While he wanted the other to leave, he knew that trying to make him do so would only arouse suspicion, and if his fellow Marauder wasn't already worried, he definitely would be. Best to let things play out, act like nothing was wrong. He was a master in the ways of hiding his true feelings. (Except when said feeling was anger. That's a whole other story.)
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Post by jamespotter on May 24, 2012 4:56:57 GMT -5
"No one can sneak up on the great Padfoot, Map or no. Either way, you would have failed in your most pointless quest."
James saw the smile on his friend and knew that he was starting to fight a loosing battle. In attempt to save his cause, James continued with his own smile, "Ah yes, the Great Padfoot with powers of stealth, deduction and the constant desire for a bone." Prongs took one of the stones from the pile and got a feel for it by moving it through his fingers. With a quick glance out at the lake, James took the stone and threw it across the dark surface of the lake. It seemed that after a couple of bounces, the stone had had enough with the ride and sank into the depths of the lake. Maybe it was glad to get away, as if it had feelings. James watched as Padfoot threw his stone, hitting the water five times before it sank. The smile on his friend's face was becoming more natural then it had been originally. Was Padfoot starting to become more relaxed? Would it now be easier to talk about his troubles?
James thought another moment about how he was going to approach this. Even with his knowledge of Sirius, James was not quite as ready as he had thought. Maybe if he didn't spend as much with Lily then this conversation would have already happened. "Padfoot . . . you know that you can tell me anything. Right?" Once he had said it, James knew that the question was more for him then for Sirius. The friend beside him was generally a quiet one when it came to his emotional development. Maybe a more aggressive approach to the situation was called for?
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Post by markus on May 24, 2012 15:53:50 GMT -5
"Ah yes, the Great Padfoot with powers of stealth, deduction and the constant desire for a bone."
[/i] A faux-pout appeared on the dog-Animagus' face and he crossed his arms over his chest, consequently pushing himself up into a sitting position (he had been practically lying down before). "I'll have you know that the Great Padfoot[/b] does not, in fact, have a constant desire for a bone!"[/color] A brief pause in which the Marauder averted his eyes. "...everyone knows that squirrels are more fun." Sirius' stormy eyes were not on his best mate's stone as he threw it - they were locked on the bespectacled wizard himself, the former heir struggling to figure out just what the other had planned. Was this an innocent encounter, a friend discovering a friend by the lakeside and just stopping for a chat? Or did James have a deeper, more concerning motive behind this visit? If the stag-Animagus' timing had not have been so good, he wouldn't have been suspicious. But, regardless...the walls Sirius had built around himself would not be coming down any time soon, and James would just have to accept that. His next words answered Sirius' question: "Padfoot . . . you know that you can tell me anything. Right?"[/i] Well, great. This was turning out splendidly. He was quiet for a few beats, turning his eyes to the Lake, staring out at the mountains and trying to figure out how he could respond to this question without actually responding to said question. Yes, he knew he could count on James...he knew he could talk to him about anything and everything. He knew he should talk to his best mate about his problems. But...there is a difference between 'should' and 'would'. The former heir had never been good at expressing himself, nor did he enjoy doing so. His voice was a tad softer when he finally answered: "I know, Prongs."[/blockquote][/size]
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Post by jamespotter on May 25, 2012 15:52:42 GMT -5
"I'll have you know that the Great Padfoot does not, in fact, have a constant desire for a bone!"
James smiled at his friend’s reaction as he sat down. The lake was so calm it was as if the Giant squid was sleeping. The beast from deep within was known for its docile and helpful nature towards everybody, regardless of whether or not they were to do with the school. James had seen it on a number of occasions whilst crossing the grounds with his friends on numerous missions of mischief. A lot of them against the rules. Staying within boundaries had never been a strong suit of the Marauders. The fact that three of them were illegal animagi was clear evidence of that but it brought the group closer together. It brought James and Sirius closer together. The Great Padfoot and Prongs against the world. Or so Prongs thought.
"...everyone knows that squirrels are more fun."
Prongs could not help but laugh now. "Ah yes, the age old creature known as the squirrel." For a moment, James could feel the eyes of his best friend praying over any information they got from him as he tried to ignore them. Sirius was on to him. James could feel it but he was already knee deep in the attempt to help Sirius out with the stresses of the world.
"Padfoot . . . you know that you can tell me anything. Right?"
Now that James had openly said it, he did feel like he had just tried to confirm the connection that he had with Sirius even after all of these years. For the wizard, James had come to see Sirius like a brother and so could tell him pretty much anything but did he feel the same way. The reaction from the wizard beside James was not an instant one. This made James feel slightly worse. Did Sirius believe differently?
"I know, Prongs."
It was just three words and yet it was not what James had wanted in a way. He wanted Sirius to open up and reveal what was going on in that head of his. It was as if there was a barrier between the two friends. "I'm just asking because it seems like there's something bothering you. Is it your parents?"
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