my mind forgets to remind me you're a bad idea -- masin

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The common room always had been, and always would be, one of Wilma Krum’s absolute favorite parts about Hufflepuff house, but having the entire space to herself made it that much better. The rest of the student body had all filed into the Great Hall about fifteen minutes ago for dinner, so the fifth year figured she had between thirty to forty-five minutes left to enjoy the complete silence.

Wilma normally wasn’t one to skip meals, but nothing sounded particularly appetizing to her stomach and she had been struggling all week to finish a slightly difficult crossword puzzle. She was certain though that it could be done if she simply got a bit of time to herself without any kind of distraction, so Wilma made sure to focus intently in her classes and settle down in her dormitory directly after to finish up the little homework she had left.

Finally, her mental to-do list had every task ticked off and her roommates left her for their supper. Wilma realized this could be one of the only chances she had before the tranquility of the common room was ruined for the evening. The dainty Hufflepuff picked up her thick book of crossword puzzles she made been certain to pack before term began, a bottle of black ink, her treasured dove-feathered quill, and a thick blanket her grandmother Eldridge had knitted her for the school year, then padded eagerly down the wooden steps before she settled down into the expansive yellow couch directly in front of the fireplace.

Just as her tense shoulders began to drop and a sigh of relief was leaving her lips, she was, of course, interrupted.

@delisle

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Skipping dinner was easy for Masin. Evern since Ethan was hospitalized she lost her appetite. She hoped that no one would really notice, since she had issues with eating disorders in the past.. but that wasn't important. This wasn't an eating disorder this was severe worry. Still, she didn't show the worry on her face when others were around. Now, she sat in the common room, in a chair in the corner by herself. She lay back in the chair, looking toward the ceiling. How did it all come to this? People being killed, her best friend hospitalized, her heart obsessing over some stupid Gryffindor jock.

Suddenly she heard a sound. She sat straight up, her posture returning to perfection and her usual smug smile slipping onto her face. It was Wilma Krum. Masin wondered why she was skipping the meal, but didn't ask her yet. She waited until the girl had sat down before standing up, coming out from her corner and moving toward Wilma. She sat down next to the girl rather abruptly. "Wil! Fancy meeting you here. Not hungry?" she tilted her head slightly to the side.

@amanda

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Wilma's eyes went wide when she came to the conclusion that this wasn't an average, everyday kind of interruption. This interruption was none other than Masin DeLisle. Thee Masin DeLisle. The pair of Hufflepuffs had never once held eye contact, much less a conversation, so it wasn't fair for the Head Girl to expect Wil to simply roll with this sort of thing. Her deep brown eyes narrowed in an almost  suspicious manner and she sunk deeper into the canary-colored, suede couch.This was only for a moment as Wilma took in this seemingly, perfectly put-together seventh year.

Like anyone in the castle, Wilma was aware of the foreboding circumstances that surrounded Hogwarts. This meant she understood how Ethan had recently been attacked and his current state was... concerning. While she couldn't be certain, the fifth year had heard the Ravenclaw victim and Masin had been close, so she figured it was better to assume they were good freinds rather than assume they were just aquaintances. Besides, this Hufflepuff sitting by her feet apparently had a dangerous side that no one aimed to be on.

After thinking this all over for a few long moments, Wil straightened up against the arm of the couch and pushed her blanket down to appear more open for conversation. "No. Not really. It's been chaotic around here lately. I wanted some alone time more than anything," the delicate girl began to explain before a horrified expression crossed her face. Had Wilma offended Masin already? "Not-not that I don't want to talk to you. Of course I want to talk to you. Who wouldn't? You're... lovely," the paniced brunette backtracked, sitting up even straighter before she hastily leaned over to place her puzzle and writing materials aside to assure Masin that she truly was willing and prepared for whatever she wanted from her.

@delisle

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Masin couldn't help but chuckle as Wilma struggled to come to a full sentence. Masin knew that she had that kind of affect on people, and she didn't one bit. She especially had that affect on those she had deemed to be worth her time and attention, at least in the way she gave it to Wilma. Wilma had a strong personality, a pretty face, and listened to Masin. She was like a protege, Masins's little project to take her place when she moved on. However, Masin was aware that Wilma was a more gentle than she was, but she would teach the fifth year to use that as a strength.

"Naturally," Masin agreed as Wilma finally found the word 'lovely' toward the end of her speaking. Masin waited patiently, unmoving, as Wilma set her things aside and found a posture more receptive to paying attention. "I do apologize for interrupting, though. Alone time is important, especially at times like these. That's what I was doing skipping out on dinner," she smiled, a sweet understanding smile though not entirely genuine. If she was too genuine, she may give her real emotions away and that just wouldn't do.

@amanda

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Masin had the sort of tone that Wilma couldn't particularly disagree with, so the fifth year found herself nodding without much thought as to why she was nodding. It just felt easy to go along with the slightly intimidating Head Girl, the brunette assumed. Not only that, but the younger Hufflepuff wasn't sure why she found her intimidating considering the fact that she had done nothing to make Wil nervous or embarrassed. On the contrary, Masin had been completely pleasant to her... or so it appeared.

The way Wilma saw pleasant was sometimes different than the way her peers saw pleasant. The smile Masin gave her was obviously not a true grin, but the slim Hufflepuff didn't have it in her heart to search for anything other than kindness when the corners of someone's lips curled up gently. "Times like these," Wil repeatedly carefully, her dark eyes locking in on Masin's face, wondering how to respond. "I suppose so. Lately, things have been odd, haven't they? I heard that you and Ethan... Well, he just got attacked and I had heard you two, um, spent time together, right? You were friends? Still are, of course."

@delisle

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aMasin nodded as Wilma tried to get around to asking about times like these ad Masin's friend Ethan. Masin kept her poker face as best as she possibly could, but her eyes perhaps quivered slightly. "Yes, Ethan is a good friend of mine. He's also dating Cordelia. You know, the pretty blonde whom I spend most of my time with?" she added with a little chuckle. The way Masins tone changed when she described Cordie wasn't really a question, it was more of a 'if you don't know who Cordie is then you don't know anything', in a manner of speaking.

Masin always considered her friends to be part of a high profile group, and she wanted Wilma to be a part of that. It would just take a little more work, of course. The girl was young, and too gentle at times. "Surely you're worried too, aren't you? About the dangers happening right now?" she asked.

@amanda

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What upsetted Wilma more than anything wasn't the fact that the wizarding community, especially her fellow Hogwarts students, were in danger. Instead, she was gutted by the fact that she wasn't frightened. The young Hufflepuff girl certainly wanted to be worried about the safety of those around her, but she simply couldn't find it in herself to worry. Neither she, nor anyone close to her, had been directly threatened or attacked and she couldn't find a reason for it to happen to her.

Wil wasn't born from two Muggles and she wasn't necessarily important, unless you considered whom her parents were. The pair of them were famous from their days as professional Quidittch players and while they were both increbily wealthy, the gentle brunette doubted money was the primary goal. Of course, she couldn't voice all this to the Head Girl, so she simply nodded her pretty head and offered a weak smile. "I am. I mean, who isn't? It's very frightening indeed to have it all so close," the soft-spoken lady fibbed.

@delisle

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Masin raised an eyebrow at the girl, "granted... you don't have much to worry about, do you? Blessed with the parents you have and the way you stay out of trouble. You're probably one of the safest people here," she said with a soft chuckle. It was sad, almost, to think about the fact that Wilma didn't have as much to worry about as she did. Granted, worry often weakened people and Masin was grateful that Wilma didn't have that problem as she did. Wilma would be a much better Head Girl, if she kept that up.

"How are your classes going, though? That's something to worry about," she said, adding a smile to her face. It was a lighter topic, sure, but something a little more important for the moment. Good grades were a big deal to Masin and she hoped to the younger girl as well.

@amanda

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At the mention of her schoolwork, Wilma became peculiarly interested in her quill, smoothing the feathers and admiring the color. In reality, she just wanted to keep her dark gaze away from the Head Girl's. It wasn't that thing were going poorly, but it was just O.W.L.s weren't far away and no matter what she tried, the young Hufflepuff always got anxiety during testing periods. She came well prepared and all, but nothing seemed to help.

"School is... fine. You know, I don't want to keep you. You're the Head Girl, so you must be incredibly busy. At least, too busy to sit here and shoot the bull with a silly fifth year," Wil tried to offer, giving Masin a smile that was just too sugary sweet to be real. In the back of her mind,  she was trying to understand what was making her try and weasel out of the conversation. Her grades were exceptional to be honest... well, all except for Charms. The Krum girl had never excelled in that class, though, she wasn't exactly sure why, but she had come to terms with it.

@delisle

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Masin raised an eyebrow as the girl talked about how she didn't want to keep Masin. "Trying to get rid of me?" Masin said, adding a little chuckle. It was a joke, for the most part, but she figured Wilma really was trying to get out of the conversation. She sighed, leaning forward slightly and crossing her ankles underneath her seat. "And you're not silly. If I thought you were silly, I wouldn't bother talking to you," she looked away from the fifth year to glance about, seeing if there really was anyone else around worth talking to. She looked back at the girl with a soft, not at all genuine smile. "I guess I can leave you to it then." But she didn't move.

@amanda

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Wilma watched Masin closely for a few moments, taking in what she had said. It wasn't like the younger Hufflepuff wanted to get rid of her, but to be honest, Wilma felt nervous beside the Head Girl. She felt like she was being placed under a microscope to observe, to test, to study. It wasn't the best thought she could come up with. Despite these images in her mind, this was quite the oppourntunity. It wasn't everyday Wil had the chance to chat so causually with Masin.

"Miss... DeLisle? I was wondering if I could ask you a quick question, then. If you plan on leaving soon, I should do it before I lose the chance," the brunette murmured, getting softer and softer as she went to the point where she was mumbling essentially to herself. Almost at once, she knew that Masin did not have the type of personality that was willing to put up with such behavior, so she straightened her shoulder blades and cleared her throat. "Do you, um, like being Head Girl?"

@delisle

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Masin placed her hands in her lap, raising a smile at the girl as she started to speak. She seemed to lose volume as she went on, which wasn't surprising. People often lost their nerve when talking to Masin. It did make Masin start to slow raise an eyebrow in disapproval, until Wilma managed to straighten up, causing Masin to listen a little more intently then she had been before.

At her question, Masin's skeptical face turned into a smile. It wasn't one hundred percent genuine, at least not in the way that she was showing and true feelings, but it was real. "I love it," she said, "it's a way to help other people from hurting each other or themselves. It's an honor, too, to be able to carry that burden."

@amanda

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Wilma found herself offering up a delicate smile of her own to Masin, but it faltered when she spoke of having to carry the burden. "A burden," she softly noted, pursing her plump lips and dropping her head sheepishly. "Well, I guess you must've worked very hard to get that position, then? What do you think it is that you did that... well, earned you the position?"

The dainty Hufflepuff wasn't sure if this was an appropriate question or not, but she was rather interested to know. Was it her outspoken nature, her work ethic in class, or something else totally unknow to the younger girl. "Forgive me, I don't mean to pry, I'm just curious. It's a real honor to get Head Girl or Head Boy, so..." Wilma shrugged her narrow shoulders lightly.

@delisle

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Masin was actually rather flattered by the questions and waved off Wilmas apology. "Don't be sorry. Curiosity is something you should cultivate, not apologize for. Yes?" she directed, speaking as if she was teaching a class of some sort. She should have started some sort of club while she was here where she could help people better themselves... Well, it was too late for that now.

She went on, "I did work hard. As for what I did, well, I showed that I was always willing to do what was necessary. I encouraged those around me to obey the rules and behave well, I do my school work, I try to encourage house and interhouse camaraderie by not discriminating in that fact. I didn't screw around, Wilma. I still don't," she said, her face sharpening again at that point, as if she was directing her in what to pay attention to, what to remember.

"I think you'd make a great Head Girl some day, Wilma. You'd be a bit more gracious than myself," she admitted with a chuckle, "if you're interested you should inform Leslie. She takes students wishes into account while selecting. I could talk to her with you. That is, if you are interested?"

@amanda